Russian Chapel

The Russian Chapel stands beside the road up to Vršič Pass, a small wooden memorial in the forest. It is one of the most moving stops in the valley because it interrupts the usual alpine mood with a specific wartime tragedy.

Pull over carefully if you are driving the pass road. The chapel does not take long to see, but it changes the tone of the journey from scenic engineering to human cost.

things to do sight history
A story
The chapel commemorates Russian prisoners of war who died while building the Vršič road for the Austro-Hungarian army during the First World War. The beauty of the forested slope makes the story feel even harsher.