Lead partner: The Walk of Peace in the Soča Region Foundation.
Other partners: Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, ZRC SAZU, Kobarid Museum, from Italy (FJK): PromoTurismo FVG, EGTC and partners from other Italian regions—Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige)many others from other countries (Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belgium, Austria, France, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, BIH, Czech Republic, Russia).
Over a century ago, like many other places in Europe, the First World War ravaged our cross-border region. Countless lives were lost or permanently scarred, and the landscape was both destroyed and transformed. The tangible and intangible heritage of this wartime devastation is omnipresent. Memories can hurt and divide, yet they can also serve as a stark reminder of what war is and why it is never a solution. It can also become a shared responsibility—a call to approach the past together, to remember all victims, and to foster understanding and respect among those who live today in the former frontline and hinterland areas. This shared history can inspire new paths of coexistence, collective creation, and sustainable development.
One of these initiatives, born from an idea by prof. Walther Schaumann, is the project the Walk of Peace, which has been gradually developing for over 40 years with the same goal: to transform the divisive paths of the First World War into connections between people and places. This project spans the Austrian-Italian-Slovenian cross-border area and serves as an exemplary model, inspiring similar efforts in other European regions shaped by the Great War. Along the former Isonzo Front, the Walk of Peace from the Alps to the Adriatic trail has emerged over the last decade—a 500 km cultural and hiking trail linking military cemeteries, ossuaries, chapels, churches, museums, and outdoor museums. This trail weaves together the rich, diverse, and unique landscapes of the Soča Region, stretching from the Alps through Brda, Vipava Valley, and Karst, all the way to the Adriatic Sea.
Through the Find Your Grave project, we will create an online platform listing fallen soldiers resting in more than 70 Austro-Hungarian military cemeteries, 3 Italian ossuaries, 1 German ossuary, and other locations. This digital memorial will honor all of those who have died—regardless of their religion, nationality, or allegiance. Complementing this, the European Walk of Peace project will open new possibilities for collaboration in our shared cross-border space. It will extend our experiences to other war-affected regions, build a European network of partners, seek recognition for the trail and its heritage on international heritage lists, and contribute to the collective pledge of "never again".
Key individuals:
- Mihael Uršič,
- Petra Svoljšak,
- Maša Klavora,
- Damjana Fortunat Černilogar,
- Ernesta Drole,
- Marko Štepec,
- Zdravko Likar,
- Željko Cimprič.
- Nicola Revelant,
- Ezio Benedetti,
- Marco Mantini,
- Marco Pascoli,
- Marta Lollis,
- Kamil Ruszała,
- Francesco Frizzera,
- Franck Viltart,
- Stephen Lodewyck,
- Martin Drobnak and others.
