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©Photo Pavšič, from the collection of the Goriški muzej Kromberk - Nova Gorica (Goriška museum).
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©Photo Pavšič, from the collection of the Goriški muzej Kromberk - Nova Gorica (Goriška museum).
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©Photo Pavšič, from the collection of the Goriški muzej Kromberk - Nova Gorica (Goriška museum).
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©Photo Pavšič, from the collection of the Goriški muzej Kromberk - Nova Gorica (Goriška museum).
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The first swimming pool in Nova Gorica was built in 1953/1954 as part of the Meblo factory complex in Kromberk. Originally a fire-reservoir pool, it soon became a public bathing area.
For its time, it represented an exceptional infrastructural achievement. Shortly afterwards, the Soča Swimming Club was founded and became the organiser of swimming courses and competitions in swimming and diving. Good conditions also encouraged the development of water polo. The pool quickly turned into a recreational and social hub for young people, who spent entire summer days there—from morning until evening—playing games such as kanton, “snakes,” and “little dolphins,” or card games like špljak, briškula, and trešeta by the poolside.
People also fondly remember being able to buy pašareta—a fizzy, coloured drink that was a special treat for children at the time. The water was sometimes murky with algae, but this hardly bothered the children; when it was replaced, it was extremely cold.
“We spent almost all our summer holidays there. In the morning we left home with a snack—apples, pears, peaches, and a piece of bread—and happily returned late in the afternoon. Playing kanton was especially fun,” recalled Samo Perat about his childhood in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
The pool was quite far for many residents—nearly two kilometres from the “Russian blocks,” or over twenty minutes on foot—though many reached it by bicycle. Groups of boys gathered around the main diving platform in the deep section, testing their courage with jumps from the highest board.
Initially, the pool was managed by the Nova Gorica Tourist Association; in later years it was run by the Meblo factory. It operated until 1987, when it was closed due to hygiene issues and additional pollution from a nearby chipboard factory. From the late 1970s onwards, a strong smell of wood particles often lingered over the water and concrete.
After its closure, the site remained unused for seven years. It was only partially replaced by an indoor pool at today’s Perla Hotel (built in 1976 as part of the Argonavti Hotel complex).
A new outdoor swimming pool was built in 1995, marking a major improvement for swimming, water polo, and recreation. In 1997, the addition of a smaller indoor pool in the basement of Hotel Perla enabled year-round swimming lessons and therapeutic activities.
A larger indoor 25-metre pool, however, was not built in Nova Gorica until 2022.
Avtor: Jasna Fakin Bajec
Vir:
- Vuga, Tomaž. 2018. Projekt: Nova Gorica. Ljubljana: Založba ZRC, ZRC SAZU.
- Orel, Vojko. 2014. Športni park v Novi Gorici – srce goriškega športa: predstavitev razvoja Športnega parka v Novi Gorici. https://www.sz-ng.si/sites/default/files/szng-Zgodovina%20.pdf (ogled: 9. 10. 2024).
- Marussig, Mitja. 2017. Sreča v bazenu ob fabriki. https://primorske.svet24.si/novice/goriska/sreca-v-bazenu-ob-fabriki (ogled: 9. 10. 2024)
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