The Virje waterfall and the waters of Kanin

What the Virje waterfall is like

The waterfall is formed by the Glijun stream, which springs from the underground water of the Kanin massif. It drops from 12 m high in a curtain about 20 m wide. The Glijun is one of the rare karst springs that never run dry. After heavy rain it turns, together with the surrounding streams, into a real water orchestra, and in summer its flow depends on the snow melting in the central part of the massif. The water rises among stones of glacial origin and stays at about 7 °C or below.

That’s why, however inviting the pool looks in midsummer, swimming is forbidden. The aim is to keep the waterfall as it is for those who come later, and it’s worth respecting.

Getting there from Bovec

From Plužna, follow the road towards the hydropower plant’s artificial lake and the signs for Virje. Before the bridge over the Glijun, a wide path drops about 50 metres to the left to the waterfall. Close by you can also see the karst spring of the Glijun and Lake Plužna.

There are two signposted routes. The short one, 3.5 km, takes just over an hour, while the one from Bovec covers 9.5 km and about two hours. By bike it’s a very pleasant ride. If you drive, the car park charges by the hour and doesn’t take motorhomes or buses; in July and August the Bovec Hop-on Hop-off drops you there.

The Glijun spring and Lake Plužna

Plužna is one of the small villages of the Bovec basin that the Soča Valley Tourist Board suggests for escaping the bustle of the centre, along with Kal-Koritnica, Žaga and Srpenica. From the waterfall you can carry on to the karst spring of the Glijun, where the water rises among the stones, and to the artificial Lake Plužna of the hydropower plant. It combines well with a morning on the river or a visit to Kluže fortress on the Predil road.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Bovec for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.

Virje through the seasons

Virje can be visited all year round. In summer it’s a cool stop after a day on the river, in autumn the woods around it change colour, and in winter, with ice and snow around, the waterfall looks like a different place. On icy days take care on the path. If you want more, the guide to waterfalls in Slovenia brings together Boka, Kozjak and many others across the country.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Virje waterfall on GetYourGuide.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Bovec for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.