"FSG TOUR - SLOVENIA 2008"

FSG TOUR - SLOVENIA 2008
LETNA EKSKURZIJA FSG - SLOVENIJA 2008

DAY 6: FORTS OF FORMER CARINTHIA
6. DAN: UTRDBE NEKDANJE KOROSKE

Photo/Foto: Charles Blackwood, A.J.Potocnik

16.5.2008

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..."On our last day we make an early start and head northwest to the Italian Border where the Carinthian forts of Austria faced the Italians, until we see Fort Hensel from the freeway." ...
... "Fort Chiusaforte is built on the reverse slope of a rock promontory which leaves only a road/rail width between itself and the river. Here in 1908 was a fort part of the Fortezza Tagliamento, mounting four 149mm guns in armoured cupolas."...
..."Back on the coach and into the mountains to Lake Predil with snow-capped mountains reflected in the water, a wonderful sight. Here we found projecting into the lake the heap of rubble that had been Fort Reiblersee, totally flattened by just 49 heavy shells from the Italian guns. While the fort is nothing to look at, the location is stunning. We move on up the Predel pass, passing several well camouflaged bunkers that were used up to 1974. At the top of the pass Battery Predil overlooks the lake we have just come from . In summer 1915 the battery took over 50 direct heavy shell hits from Italian guns, but is still in reasonable condition."...
..."After lunch we immediately cross the border into Slovenia and after only a kilometre see the ruins of Fort Predel very picturesque against its forest and mountain backdrop. The first log-built blockhouse was burnt down by the French in 1809 and forty years later a new fort of stone was completed, on more or less the same footprint,"...
..."As we arrived at Fort Kluze the heavens opened; after a glorious week of sunshine now the rain came thick and heavy. Alex had arranged to meet Vlado Lipovec, a member of the "1313 History Association" who opened the fort for us and we made a dash from the coach. This fort had a colourful history; originally a log-type blockhouse it was replaced by a Venetian castle type fort closing the upper exit from the Soca river valley towards Tarvis. The Venetian fort was later burnt by the French and replaced between 1881-1882 to a design of Salis-Soglio. In WWI it served as a headquarters and supply base, and being sheltered from Italian guns remained undamaged, unlike Fort Herman, which is just above and was very badly damaged by the Italian shelling. An enormous amount of restoration work had been done by Fort Kluze's Association and it was in superb condition with a most informative museum - many plans and much on regional geology - and a delightful room for weddings."...
(From FSG tour report in Casemate,
written by Alistair Graham Kerr)
with permission by the author and the editor.

Photo above right:
Alistair Graham Kerr, the author of the report in front of the Predil Pass Battery.

Slika zgoraj:
Alistair Graham Kerr, avtor porocila, pred utrjeno topnisko baterijo na Predelskem sedlu..