Defensive Line of the Judrio Valley - Drenchia/Dreka [1915-1918]

After hostilities began with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the advance of Italian troops beyond the border moved the front line to the left bank of the Isonzo, from Plezzo to Tolmino through the Mount Nero area. In defense of the front line a system of trenches was designed along the mountains on the right bank of the Isonzo, while the defensive army line was organized into two parallel lines. The forward line ran from Mount Stol to Sabotino, and the reinforcement line consisted of two sections that met at Mount Cum. The first section descended from the cold summit of Matajur to Pusno in the Judrio Valley, while the second followed the mountains on the right of the Judrio, from Passo Zagradan to Mount San Biagio. The works were not completed, so when Austro-Hungarian and German troops attacked the front on October 24, 1917, they encountered few obstacles, causing the Caporetto debacle.
The municipality of Drenchia is rich in historical testimonies: the most evident is the military entrenchment road that from Luico (now in Slovenia), through Colovrat, reaches the Zagradan pass, Mount Podclabuz, and the Solarie pass. Along the route, there are caves and remains of trenches on the peaks. Heading towards Castelmonte, before Clabuzzaro, there is a large fountain with a frieze, and in San Volfango, the former war cemetery. On the peaks where the defensive line passed, only a few remains of trenches now buried remain.