Former Minister Revives Slovenian Community Hub as Hotel

Janez Kopač, a former minister, renovated an old cooperative building in Čezsoča, Slovenia into Hotel Vila Soča, but maintained its original purpose by also opening it to locals. Kopač and his wife have a long connection to the area, having vacationed and built a home there. He chose to preserve the building’s role as a community center alongside its function as a hotel.

The hotel already hosted local musicians and theater groups and plans to add a shop, as well as show films, prioritizing connection to the surrounding community.

Kopač intentionally avoided maximizing profit by converting the ground floor into additional hotel rooms, instead prioritizing maintaining a space for local residents. The renovation seeks to restore a vital center for the small community of Čezsoča, near Bovec.