On the last day of our getaway in the Soča Valley, we didn't just want to drive straight home. So, we turned our journey from the Soča Guesthouse in Kanal ob Soči to Ljubljana into a pleasant road trip, taking us through the Vipava Valley and the Karst region.

Solkan Bridge – A World Record Holder Among Stone Railway Bridges

We first took the regional road toward Solkan, home to one of Slovenia's most recognizable engineering landmarks – the Solkan Bridge.

The bridge was built in 1905 as part of the Bohinj railway line, and it still holds the title of the railway bridge with the largest stone arch in the world. Its main stone arch spans an impressive 85 meters, while the entire bridge stretches about 220 meters long and rises around 36 meters above the Soča River.

Trains still cross it daily, adding major photogenic value to the view. The best vantage point is from the neighboring road bridge, which features a proper pedestrian sidewalk. That's exactly where we viewed the bridge and snapped a few photos. Because both bridges are at a similar height, you get an excellent sense of its massive scale.

There is a free parking lot right next to the road bridge, so the stop won't take up much of your time.

Rihemberk Castle – A Mighty Medieval Fortress

From Solkan, we continued through the Vipava Valley, passing vineyards and small villages, all the way to Rihemberk Castle, which is considered one of the oldest and largest castles in Slovenia.

We left our car by the side of the road on the castle hill, just below the fortress, and walked up to the entrance.

The castle boasts the tallest castle tower in Slovenia, standing at approximately 27 meters, with a history dating back to the 13th century. Aside from its incredible architecture, it is also known for its rich visitor program. During the summer season, they often host knight days, falconry displays, children's workshops, guided tours, and various cultural events.

Tip: The castle's opening hours vary depending on the season, so we highly recommend checking the current schedule on their official website before visiting. Ticket prices vary based on age and group size.

In our opinion, Rihemberk is an excellent choice, especially for families with kids, as a large part of the programming is tailored specifically to younger visitors.

Štanjel – One of the Most Beautiful Karst Villages

Just over ten kilometers further, we arrived at Štanjel, one of the oldest and most picturesque villages in the Karst region.

Most visitors park in one of the designated parking lots below the village, where parking costs about 1 € per hour. However, we took a slightly different route.

We drove into Štanjel from the other side via a macadam forest road that winds past small hamlets all the way to the Ferrari Garden. The road is quite rugged and full of potholes, so we wouldn't recommend this path to drivers of lower-clearance passenger cars. If you don't have a higher vehicle or all-wheel drive, it makes much more sense to use the official parking lots.

We spent most of our time at the Ferrari Garden, which is considered one of the most beautiful landscape architecture designs in Slovenia. Designed by the renowned architect Maks Fabiani, the garden impresses with its manicured terraces, stone staircases, hidden walkways, benches, a pond featuring a small island and bridge, and numerous scenic viewpoints.

Unfortunately, we ran out of time to tour the castle itself. Today, it houses museum collections, galleries, restaurant and exhibition spaces. Visitors can also climb the castle tower for stunning views over the Karst landscape.

The castle complex is generally open every day, though hours change throughout the year. An adult ticket for the castle museum usually costs around 9 €, with family and discounted tickets also available.

Taking the Scenic Route Home

Instead of hopping right onto the highway, we stuck to the regional roads for a while longer, driving through the Vipava Valley and the Karst region.

Even though this added about twenty minutes to our trip back to Ljubljana, we didn't regret it for a second. The vineyards, stone Karst houses, open views, and peaceful roads ensured that the final stretch of our vacation was truly something special.