Articles

The bridge which spans the Soča River near Kobarid is called 'Napoleon Bridge' by the locals because, according to oral tradition, the French army and even Napoleon Bonaparte himself crossed it several times between the years 1797 and 1813. Simon Rutar, a historian of Tolmin, wrote about it the following passage:

“In the entire area of Tolminsko there used to be only three stone bridges: one at Kobarid, spanning the Soča, and two at Sveta Lucija, spanning the Soča and the Idrijca. In the year 1758 the old bridge at Kobarid collapsed, so in 1759 the construction of a new bridge began and was successfully brought to completion in 1750. [It is presumed that the year in question was 1760.] All communities from Podbela to Podmelec toiled at building the new bridge.”

Napoleon Bridge – WWI, May 1915

“After all the severe blows of fate, Kobarid, which had become strangely silent, learned that Italy declared war on Austria; the news came to the place on 23 May at 10 p.m. What this piece of news meant for the people of Kobarid is not difficult to imagine. In a hurry we dug in and bricked up everything that was of any value. Those for whom it was still possible fled across the Soča or across Predel to the hinterland. The last telegraph messages came and in a few hours the officials, the policemen, the gendarmes, the post office clerks and others had to leave Kobarid as fast as possible. Of course, a car was sent for them. Also my mother and my two sisters wanted to flee as well as some other locals. When they were on their way towards the Soča they suddenly saw a monstrous pillar of fire and in the next moment they heard a terrible detonation shaking the air and the ground. On their retreat, the soldiers and the gendarmes had just blown up the old Napoleon Bridge behind them to prevent the Italians who were chasing them from advancing. Thus, we could do nothing but return and wait.”