This property is...
Most na Soci train station
Any times given are by car unless otherwise stated
Property and local area description
Spacious Apartment with period feautures and seperate kitchen / dining area
Mary's Apartment
This apartment (45sqm) is located in the front part of the first floor.
There is a large open plan bedroom with a king sized bed with antique bedside table. There is an antique wardrobe and chester drawers for your clothing.
The lounge area has a sofa bed which comfortably sleeps two adults. There is also a reading nook beside the wood burning stove. There is also a dresser for additional storage.
The en-suite bathroom has a large shower.
The kitchen is just off this room and has a dining area which seats four attached. The kichen has a 4 ring electric hob, fridge, microwave, toaster, kettle, french press and bailetti coffee maker. There is additional space in this room to store luggage if you so wish to.
The apartment has its own separate lockable entrance which accessed via the first floor landing.
The House
Hemingway House is a recently renovated 19th century townhouse in the centre of Kobarid. The house has been divided to create 5 unique self-catering apartments all with their own kitchen and bathroom.
The apartments can be rented individually (see other listings on this site) or as a whole house for larger groups as it can sleep 16 (Villa Renters Ref: 86928).
There is a garden out the back with a bbq area as well as two terraces to relax on. Fantastic views of the surrounding mountains can be seen from all over the back of the property which is surprisingly quiet given the house's central location.
To the rear of the property is a large secure barn which can be used to store sporting equipment, motorbikes and for the drying of clothes, wetsuits and tents on rainy days. On sunny days you can make use of the drying terrace to the side of the house.
But, with so much to see and do in the area I'm not sure how much time you will actually want to spend at the house?
Kobarid - the best village to explore the Soca Valley from
Kobarid was immortalised in Ernest Hemingway's Farewell to Arms as a charming amicable little town. Not much has changed in the intervening years but the main square is now filled with lively bars and great restaurants and in the summer numerous music festivals take place here.
Hemingway House is located just three houses off the main square so it couldn't be more centrally located. There are three grocery stores, a bakery and green grocers less than a 5 minute walk from the house.
Kobarid is the perfect base for exploring the Soca Valley particularly for those who don't want to drive. There are numerous walks that can be done right from the house, from the challenging peak of Krn to the gentle stroll up to the Roman Village or along the banks of the Soca River. There are many adventure sport companies in the village offering canyoning, rafting, horse back riding, kayaking and paragliding.
If you like paragliding one of the main take off points is Stol which overlooks the village and there is a regular taxi service to take gliders to the top. The main landing spot is within walking distance of the house.
But, the real pleasure of the Soca Valley is just taking in the breath taking scenery of the valley and meeting the local people.
Things to do in the area:
Outdoor Activities
Hiking - Triglav National Park borders the village on two sides and there are a number of hikes, ranging from easy to difficult which can be done right from town. The Walk of Peace also runs through the village and from this trail you can walk up to Bovec or down to Tolmin. The tourist office has complete list of the hundreds of walks possible in the area.
Swimming - locals like to head to the "beach" on the Najda River which is warmed by natural hot springs with supposed healing qualities. Its 5km outside of town on the road to Italy and there is a great bar serving food and drinks. For the brave, its possible to swim in the Soca just past the Napoleon Bridge. A bit further a field, the best swimming spot on the Soca can be found down valley in the pretty village of Kanal. The River is very shallow on the banks here so it is a suitable place to take children. There is also an excellent bakery/cafe here. For proper swimming there is an aqua park in Bovec and another one in Lake Bohinj.
Rafting/Kayaking - The Soca River is one of two rivers in Slovenia where rafting is permitted. This river has played host to the kayaking world championship several times. There are numerous companies offering guided trips on the river. Some rafting tours are suitable for small children.
Fishing - The Soca River is world renowned for its fly fishing. But, permits are expensive and guides are recommended to find the best locations for the fish.
Paragliding - The Soca Valley has idyllic weather conditions for this sport and there are a number of take-off points in the valley, including Stol which overlooks Kobarid. There is a regular taxi service available to take you to the sites.
Canyoning - For the adventurous canyoning trips can be taken. But, they are not for the faint hearted as there are lots of jumping into rivers from high ledges.
Horseback Riding - there are several stables in the area to rent horses with a guide.
Mountain Biking - many of the trails are open to mountain bikes and range from the gentle to the extreme.
Museums in Town
Kobarid Museum - is dedicated to the history of World War I in the Soca Valley. I found it fascinating and its a good way to spend a rainy day. Next door is a free exhibition on the Walk of Peace.
Planika Cheese Factory - this is a popular tour for families and the free cheese at the end of the tour is a nice bonus.
Wine Tasting
In the nearby province of Fruili in Italy there are a hundreds of vineyards one can visit.
But, I would recommend a trip to Goriza Brda to sample the local Slovenian wines which are surprisingly good from here. The area is also spectacularly beautiful, with many quaint fortress villages. There are also many good restaurants in the area.
Casino's
Gambling is legal in Slovenia. The Aurora Casino is located just outside of town and there are cabarets in the evening for those not interested gambling.
Excursions
Lake Bohinj / Bled - There is a car train from Most na Soci which takes 30 minutes to arrive at the scenic Lake Bohinj which is suitable for swimming. Bled is a further 20 minutes on the train and is considered the most beautiful spot in Slovenia. This makes for a wonderful day out.
Trieste - the city itself is a matter of personal taste but there are some great beaches up the coast if you wish to go for a swim in the sea.
Cividale de Fruili - is a charming medieval town a twenty minute drive from Kobarid. There is a fantastic flea market here on the 4th Sunday of the month. And there is a pastry shop in San Pietro de Navistone which is well worth visiting.
Koper/Piran - it takes about 2 hours to drive down to the Slovenian coast on the motorway and it can often be crowded down there in the summer. But, Koper and Piran are beautiful places to visit.
Skojan Caves / Lipica Horse Farm - On the way to the coast you can visit the Unesco World Heritage site, the Skojan Caves. The caves are amazing and there is a huge river that runs below them. Nearby is the Lipica Horse farm where the famous Lippazzaner Horses are bred. There is a good restaurant here and its possible to see the horses without entering the farm as many brood mares are in the paddocks just outside. Just don't forget to bring a bag of carrots or apples.
Postonja Caves and Castle - These are the most famous caves in Slovenia and there is a train which takes you deep in the cave network. The caves are bigger than those at Skojan but I think less dramatic. They do music performances in the main cave in the summer. Nearby is the castle which has a museum.
Ljubljana - the capital is well worth a visit. The river Sava runs through its small city centre and its banks are lined with cafes and restaurants. There is a castle on top of a hill which gives amazing views of the city and there are a number of interesting museums which one can visit. During the summer there are numerous free musical festivals taking place.
How Hemingway House came into being
I am a Canadian who came to Slovenia on a holiday back in 2007 and feel in love with the beauty of the Soca Valley.
When I returned to London where I was living at the time, I decided that there had to be more to life than working 9 to 5 marketing a law firm. And spurred on by numerous property development programs I decided that I would be the one person alive who could move to a foreign country where I didn't speak the language and renovate a dilapidated house into a bed and breakfast without too much hassle, bearing in mind I had no DIY experience whatsoever.
Need we say things didn't go as planned but after two years I was able to transform a total ruin into a very liveable three bedroom house, in the lovely village of Ciginj, which is available for renting on this site.
Shortly after I finished renovating this house, a property in Kobarid became available and I decided to sell my house in Ciginj to a guest who stayed in the house and loved it and turn my hand at another renovation project.
Two years later, my vision was realised and Hemingway House is now open for business.
Along the way, I've made numerous great friends over here, improved my knowledge on how to renovate stone houses as well as the art of plastering, tiling, painting and whole host of other DIY skills.
I am currently working on another property up in the picturesque village of Livek, which overlooks the Soca Valley, just above Kobarid. With any luck, a magnificent farmhouse with 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a massive open planned kitchen /living area, with a 45sqm terrace with a fantastic view of Krn will be available for rent in Spring 2013.
I am living proof that you can realise your dream if you have the stupidity, courage and determination to see it through.