The Zaprikraj Open-Air Museum is located on the high‑mountain pass between Kal (1,760 m) and Krasji vrh (1,768 m), where the first Italian defensive line once stood during the First World War. In this strategically important area, the Italian army built an extensive system of stone‑ and concrete‑reinforced trenches with firing positions, carved out numerous caverns, and established artillery and observation posts. The defensive line was designed to stop potential Austro‑Hungarian advances toward Drežnica and Kobarid, both key support points on the Isonzo Front.
The first major clash on this section occurred on 24 October 1917, the opening day of the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, also known as the Battle of Caporetto. Italian units successfully repelled the attack of the 26th Austro‑Hungarian Mountain Brigade. However, they were soon forced to abandon their positions, as the Austro‑Hungarian and German breakthrough in the valley had already cut off their supply routes and threatened the entire defensive line.
Today, the Zaprikraj Open‑Air Museum is one of the best‑preserved high‑mountain museums along the former Isonzo Front. Visitors can explore remarkably well‑preserved fortifications, trenches, caverns, and remnants of military structures that vividly illustrate the harsh conditions of mountain warfare. The site offers not only insight into the military engineering of the time but also a powerful reminder of the brutality of the war and the strategic importance of high‑altitude passes between 1915 and 1917.