Zakriž – Discover History, Trails and Nature

The Italian military fortifications in Zakriž were part of the 1,850-kilometre-long defensive Alpine Wall between Genoa and Rijeka. These fortifications include two caverns for accommodating soldiers and two so-called “opere” bunkers designed to house machine guns.

When considering a holiday apartment in Zakriž, you can view travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions as separate details. These accommodation features stand alongside the historical, cultural and scenic characteristics of the place, which describe the character of the destination.

Other destinations for your own comparison: Idrija, Cerkno, Lome, Črni Vrh, Vojsko, Bukovo, Srednja Kanomlja

Culture and History

Zakriž is home to four traditional fruit-drying buildings known as “pajštve”. One fruit-drying building on the Pri Zalazarju farmstead has been completely restored. Visitors can also see preserved troughs from the oldest water supply system in the Cerkljansko area in Zakriž.

The first documented mention of a church in Zakriž dates back to 1515. The present-day Church of St. Andrew was built around 1767. It stands in the centre of Zakriž and is richly decorated; its statues and other furnishings are gilded. The Julijina House in Zakriž is more than 300 years old.

The Križ area is registered as the archaeological site of an ancient settlement. Remains of masonry houses were found at the Križ archaeological site, particularly after major earth collapses and ground movements.

A memorial plaque in Zakriž commemorates the beginning of the publication of Partizanski dnevnik: the first issue was published on 26 November 1943 in house no. 5. On 5 June 2022, the memorial plaque was moved to the fire station at Zakriž 12.

Trails through the Village

The Stations of the Cross begins at the chapel below Zakriž, leads through the village and ends at the final station in the Church of St. Andrew. The Stations of the Cross takes approximately two hours, depending on the route variant chosen and walking speed. On the first Sunday of Lent, it is held in the afternoon in the village by residents of Zakriž.

The Bevk Trail leads through Zakriž to the centre of the village. In the centre of Zakriž, it turns right; this is where the junction with a wooden farm building and the road connecting Gorje and Ravne is located.

On cycle route No. 2, cyclists turn right towards the centre of Zakriž after the village sign. After approximately 500 metres, they turn right again towards Cerkno; this is followed by an approximately two-kilometre descent to the starting point. Cycle route No. 2 through Zakriž offers views of the Baška Ridge, the Idrijca Valley and the Šebrelje Plateau, with the Church of St. Ivan in the foreground.

Nature

After rain, numerous small pools form in the Jezero meadow in Zakriž. The Jersey tiger, a butterfly of the species Callimorpha quadripunctaria, is protected in the Zakriž area under Natura 2000.

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