Predil fortress

Predil fortress

Predil fortress

Predel Fortress was one of the six fortresses that comprised the system of Carinthian fortresses. It stands a few hundred meters from the Predel Pass. The first fortress was established during the time of the Napoleonic Wars. It was burned down twice during fierce battles. In 1848, a decision was made to build a new fortress on the site of the old one. It served its purpose until 1880, when a commission determined that the defence no longer met current military regulations, so it was converted into an army depot. It maintained this function until the end of World War I. Due to the lack of maintenance after the war, the buildings fell into disrepair, and today, only relatively well-preserved walls can be seen.

History

Soška dolina (Soca Valley) was of great strategic importance during the time of the Napoleonic Wars for penetrating into the interior of Austria. The Austrians were well aware of this, so they built the Kluže Fortress in the Koritnica Valley, which was completely destroyed in the first Napoleon’s campaign against Austria in 1797. Due to a lack of funds, the Austrians did not rebuild the fortifications. In 1805, the Austrian Emperor at the time, Francis I, could not accept the provisions of the Treaty of Bratislava and began preparing for a new war. He ordered the construction of two completely new fortresses, one near Naborjet in the Kanal Valley, and the other beneath the Predel Pass.

Predil fortress Mangart

Foto by: Johann Jaritz and Mihael Grmek