Ustje
is a friendly village with about 400 inhabitants. It lies in the "Primorska"
(seaside) region, in the Upper Vipava Valley on the confluence of the rivers
Vipava and Hubelj. According to tradition, the name of the village derives
from the name of its patron saint, St. Justus.
Ustje stretches on the south-eastern slope of a hill which reaches the
height of 147 m (447 feet) above sea with the church of St.
John. The north-eastern slope is protected from the well-known wind
"Vipavska Burja", by a forest of pine-trees planted
at the time of the Austria-Hungarian Monarchy. In the west and the south-west
the slopes, covered with vineyards, gradually flatten. Fields in the valley
are fertile and fruitful.
Although the influence of the cold continental climate and the Karst
region is strongly felt in the Vipava Valley, the climate is very mild
due to the warm air coming from the Mediterranean along the rivers Soca
and Vipava. The Vipava Valley is encircled by the mountain Caven in the
north (height 1242 m = 3778 feet), by the Gora plateau in the north-east
and the Nanos plateau (1269 m = 3860 feet) in the east. Whereas in the
south and west the Valley is surrounded by the so-called Vipava Hillocks
and the Karst region. The history of Ustje
is closely connected with hard war times, particularly in World War Two
when the village was completely burnt down on 8th
August 1942 by the Italian fascists. Invading armies throughout history
have passed through this region.
Nowadays the inhabitants earn their living in agriculture, wine-growing,
cattle-breeding, small trade and work in the factories of the nearby town
Ajdovscina
(pronounced Aydowscheena).
Some sports and cultural associations leave their mark on the village
social life. The choir notably being the most active
among them, keeps up the singing tradition of the "Primorska" region and
Slovenia.