Otliško Okno

Natural Window Skozno - Natural Bridge Skozno

Useful Information

Location:	Trnovo Forest, near Predmeja. Trail either from Predmeja, almost horizontal or from Ajdovscina, starting at Otliško Izvor (spring), steep uphill.
Open:	no restrictions. [2007]
Fee:	free. [2007]
Classification:	Natural Bridge
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	L=10 m, W=15 m, H=10 m, A=740 m asl.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Nova Gorica Tourist Information Center, Bevkov trg 4, 5000 Nova Gorica, Tel: +386-5-3304600, Fax: +386-5-3304606. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

The Otliško Okno (Otlica Natural Window) is a natural bridge in a prominent location. With its extraordinary view it is - according to legend - the place where a general was watching the front during World War I.

The plateau around Predmeja and Otlica lies about 800 to 900 m above sea level. Nearby village Ajdovscina is only 100 m asl, which means almost 800 m difference on only 2.5 km distance. The steep rim of the plateau, the escarpment, faces towards the sea, to the southwest. And right on the edge is a ridge of limestone rocks, which is karstified. Many small caves can be found along the cliffs.

The most prominent cave along the rim is the Otliško Okno, which is actually the 10 m long remains of a formerly much bigger cave. The part downhill is completely eroded, the part upwards collapsed and forms now a sort of valley, a so-called roofless cave. It is often called a doline, which is at least partly correct. And the remaining part of the cave is now called a natural bridge.

According to legend, the devil once tried to steal the nearby mountain-tops, but he tripped and fell into that mountain. This caused some damage and created the hole in the mountainside.