You surely know that Slovenia doesn't only have the Postojna Cave and the Škocjan Caves, right? In front of you are some wonderful Slovenian karst caves, which we have selected in the editorial office. Let's go on a trip!
You probably already know beauties such as the Postojan Caves and the Škocjan Caves. And if you haven't visited them yet, this year is a great opportunity! What are the others? Slovenian karst caves, which invite you to a trip? Below is our selection - some are suitable for adventurers, others for families. And don't forget the appropriate footwear and clothing!
Mountain cave
Mountain
Mountain cave (sometimes Malograjska jama) is located on the southern edge of Planinsko polje, under a 65-meter-high precipice wall. Through the magnificent 20-meter-wide and 8-meter-high entrance to the Planinska jama, we are accompanied by the roaring of the Unica river at high water levels. It is almost seven kilometers long in total and is the largest Slovenian water cave. The cave is also characterized by large underground cavities, numerous lakes, diverse stalactites and exceptional biodiversity. In addition to 60 species of water, 40 species of land animals live in it. Undoubtedly, the most famous endemic among them all is Human fish. In addition to the pearl of European fauna, we also find bats, various crustaceans, beetles and water snails. You can see the cave on a walk along a protected path (don't forget to wear suitable clothes and shoes) or by boat. This tour also includes walking on uneven surfaces and climbing.
More information: planinskajama.com
Kostanjeviška cave
Kostanjevica on Krka
Kostanjeviška cave lies at the foot of the Gorjanci, characterized by rugged karst terrain with chalk limestones. Here, rainfall, underground water flows and tectonic movements have created wonderful zigzag formations of fairy-tale shapes. In 1937, rising waters breached the current entrance, and then the cave literally opened itself to the surrounding residents. In 1971, electric lighting and a 300-meter path were installed in the cave for tourists to visit the most attractive parts of the cave. In total, the cave is a little more than two kilometers long, and the entire cave area is still being researched. The paths through the cave are arranged in such a way that they are suitable for children and elderly visitors. The guided tour with expert explanation lasts forty minutes. The cave has a constant temperature of 12 degrees Celsius all the time.
More information: kostanjeviska-jama.com
Dimnica cave
Matter
Dimnica cave, which can be found near the villages of Slivje and Markovščica, along the road Kozina - Reka, attracts visitors with its unusual phenomena. Two chasms about 40 m deep are connected by a tunnel. The cold air that enters one of the chasms in winter pushes out the warmer cave air on the other side, creating a characteristic haze that resembles a column of smoke. And it was after this phenomenon that the cave got its name. Dimnice is eight kilometers long and 180 m deep flow pit with trenches on two floors. The upper ones are dry, full of beautiful stalactites and have arranged tourist routes. A small stream flows along the lower ones, which flows into the spring of Rižana. The cave and its surroundings are real a treasure trove of typical karst phenomena. The visitors are most impressed by the stalactite formations, which could be included in the Guinness Book of Records.
More information: dimnice.si
Cave of the Cross
Peas
Cave of the Cross lies in the triangle between Loški polje, Cerkniški polje and Bloška plateau. It is the world-famous water karst cave, whose special features are numerous underground lakes with zigzag barriers (as many as 45 of them in total), an exceptional site of cave bear bones and natural preservation, so there is no electric lighting and concrete paths in the cave. So you will get rubber boots and a portable rechargeable flashlight for the tour. Each visit also includes boat ride. On a short tour or a short tour including a tour of Medvedje Rov, you will take a boat ride on the first lake. If you come for a longer tour, the route will lead you across 13 lakes to Kalvarija. On the longest alternative tour to Kristalna Gora, you go over a total of 20 lakes. On both longer tours, the cave guide ensures that the cave is protected as much as possible in order to carry the boat over the zigzag barriers.
More information: krizna-jama.si
The mayor's cave
Grosuplje
Near Grosuplje, about halfway to Turjak, The mayor's cave invites you to the luxury of the underground world, created over thousands of years by karst water. The cave itself is 360 meters long and reaches a depth of 77 meters at its deepest point in the chasm where the Last Hall ends. The cave consists of eight halls, of which there are seven accessible to visitors (Ledenica, Silver Hall, Permet's Hall, Great Hall, Blatna Hall, Matjaž Hall, Last Hall). The cave is very varied as it is in it almost 500 steps. The wonderful underground world is the work of the former Podlomščica stream, which today flows lower in a wide valley at the foot of the Tabor hill. The cave itself is lit and secured, so apart from good footwear and warm clothes (it's 10 degrees Celsius in the cave) you don't need any special equipment. Due to the large number of stairs, basic physical fitness is desirable.
More information: zupanovajama.si
Elf
Lokev
Elf it is the oldest tourist cave in Europe, maybe even in the world. Organized visits have been taking place here since the distant year 1633. The entrance to Vilenica was created by a ceiling collapse. This is pointed out by a large subduction cone, after which we descend into the first – Ballroom. The final event of the Vilenica International Literary Award is held here every year. The great hall is decorated with a mighty dark gray stalactite column, which old visitors called Maver. The tunnel, which descends deeper from the Ballroom, expands several times into halls that follow each other in the following sequence: Tree row of stalactites, Red Hall and Fairy Hall. After the Fairy Hall, which is the last hall accessible for tourist tours, the cave descends steeply into the non-tourist part of the cave, called Fabris's tunnel. In total, the cave is more than a kilometer long, and 450 meters of the cave are arranged and illuminated for tourist tours.
More information: vilenica.com
The cave under Granny's tooth
Bohinjska Bela
A 300-meter-high wall rises above the Sava Bohinjka valley and the villages of Bohinjska Bela and Kupljenik in the northwest of the edge of Jelovice. In the middle of it, a sharp and picturesque pointed rock, called Babji zob, rises into the sky. Near it, at an altitude of 1,008 meters above sea level, is the entrance to an underground cave. Around 300 meters of the cave tunnel are decorated with beautiful stalactite formations, among them are large calcite crystals. Helectite stalactites, which are very rare in Slovenia and elsewhere, are especially valuable. According to some sources, Jama pod Babji zobom is the second oldest cave in Slovenia, as it was formed during the Ice Age, when water from the Bohinj glacier invaded the interior of Jelovica. The guided tour of the cave lasts one hour. Together with access, rest, viewing and descent, the trip takes about three and a half hours. Visitors are recommended mountain equipment (shoes suitable for walking, warm clothes, drinks).
More information: bohinjskabela.si
Cave of Hell
Stock at Šempeter
Cave of Hell is a karst cave that is more than 3 million years old and has a rich history. It lies in the middle of the Ponikvan Karst, a good 4 kilometers north of Šempetra in the Savinjska Valley, and is one of the largest touristic karst caves in Styria. In winter, when the outside temperature is lower than the temperature in the cave, the entrance sometimes smokes. That is why our ancestors were afraid of the cave and gave it the name Hell Cave. And if you have a bit of imagination, you will see the image of the devil above the entrance to the cave. In the cave, you will get to know both a water and a dry karst cave, as it consists of two floors. In the lower, watery part of the cave, the path runs along the Peklenščica stream and leads to the biggest attractions in the cave, up to the highest in Slovenia, accessible for visitors from the immediate vicinity underground waterfall with four meters of water drop. The upper, dry part of the cave is decorated with various stalactite forms. Because the water carries different substances with it, the stalactites in the cave are colored in different shades of red and brown.
More information: td-sempeter.si
Cover photo:
IG feelslovenia / Peter Gedei
