You’ve been charmed by way of the streets of Ljubljana and awestruck by way of the alpine wonders of Bled. However your consult with to Slovenia isn’t entire till you’ve skilled no less than one of the crucial most sensible 5 caves in Slovenia.
Listed here are the highest guidelines from Terry Anzur, a Slovenian-American journalist on the weblog Strangers within the Residing Room:
- Postojna Cave: one thing for everybody
- Predjama Cave Fort: international’s greatest cave fort
- Škočjan Caves: UNESCO heritage underground
- Pivka Cave: journey for thrill-seekers
- Idrija Mercury Mine: deep dive into historical past
Which Slovenia cave journey is best for you? In a rustic with masses of caves in Slovenia, there’s one thing for everybody: Herbal good looks, interesting historical past, epic journey or even a Disneyland-style teach experience.
Postojna Cave: Obtainable Slovenia Cave Journey
In case you have time for just one Slovenia cave journey, make it Postojna Cave. This herbal surprise has been wowing guests for greater than 200 years. In 1818, a neighborhood lamplighter stumbled into the cave and declared: “Here’s paradise.”
Greater than 40 million other people have visited Postojna Cave since then. It’s the 3rd maximum visited enchantment in Slovenia, after Ljubljana and Bled. From time to time, you could have the sensation that you simply’re in a cave-themed amusement park. Don’t depression if there’s a line to board the teach; it strikes temporarily.
The three.7 km teach experience makes essentially the most astounding chambers and galleries available for every age and talents. Don’t pass over the huge Dance Corridor, lit by way of Murano glass chandeliers. There may be an not obligatory 1.5 km stroll to the enduring “Sensible” formation.
Remember to keep seated at the teach because it whips previous the overhead rocks with fatal velocity. Please appreciate nature by way of now not touching the formations. They shaped over thousands and thousands of years, one drop of water at a time.
For optimum enjoyment, put down your digicam. Within the low gentle, your telephone pictures usually are disappointing. Flash pictures isn’t allowed. Skilled photographers want permission to arrange lighting fixtures.
Sign up for this Postojna Cave excursion from Ljubljana!
Slovenia’s Child Dragons
Youngsters will love seeing the “child dragons,” a singular species in Postojna Cave. The olms can are living for 100 years and will live to tell the tale a decade with out meals. Purchase a separate price tag to the Vivarium to be told extra about all of the creatures of the underground international.
When to Talk over with: Postojna Cave is open twelve months a yr. There’s an underground nativity scene all through the vacations. Carry a heat jacket on account of the consistent 10-degree Celsius temperature, year-round. To steer clear of the summer time crowds in June, July and August, arrive when the cave opens at 9 am. The massive excursion teams arrive later within the morning.
Getting there: Postojna Cave Park is a straightforward day travel from Ljubljana or Bled, by way of automotive or bus. Reserve tickets on-line or purchase on the price tag place of business.
Professional tip: Keep on the Lodge Jama to skip the price tag line and get a bargain on excursion programs. Tenting within the house may be well-liked. There’s a carpark for motorhomes. There’s even a unfastened kennel the place your puppy can wait when you excursion the cave.
Predjama Fort: Mighty Slovenia Cave Citadel
Predjama Fort, the sector’s greatest cave fort, is just a brief power from Postonja Cave. You’ll simply consult with each at the identical day with a mixed “Two Adventures” price tag or mixed excursion.
Many workforce excursions simplest prevent for the insta-worthy photograph alternative of the Slovenia cave fort rising from cast karst rock. However you will have to plan to move within and be informed the interesting historical past.
The fifteenth Century knight Erazem withstood a siege for greater than a yr by way of smuggling in recent meals in the course of the cave tunnels. Unfortunately, he didn’t live to tell the tale a cannonball that struck the fort at its maximum prone level: the bathroom.
Make a want as you ring the fort’s bell. It was once used to warn of coming near invaders. You simplest need to appreciate the view of the encircling nation-state.
Professional tip: Get the Predjama Fort audio information for a brilliant description of existence within the Center Ages as you stroll in the course of the torture chamber and weapon rooms.
Škočjan Caves: UNESCO heritage Slovenia Cave
For a extra herbal Slovenia cave revel in, consult with the Škočjan Caves in Slovenia. UNESCO has arranged a guided excursion that gifts the underground international heritage whilst respecting the surroundings.
You’ll be awestruck by way of the underground cathedrals, carved out over the centuries by way of the Reka River. Images isn’t allowed for lots of the excursion within the caves. Close to the go out, there’s a photograph alternative that conveys the majesty of what you’ve simply skilled.
Strong climbing footwear are a should, in addition to a jacket for the underground kick back. Be ready for slippery pavement and masses of steps. This journey isn’t really helpful for small youngsters or the ones with mobility issues.
Getting there: You’ll consult with Škočjan Caves on a day travel from Ljubljana by way of automotive. Purchase tickets on-line or on the price tag place of business. Horse fanatics would possibly need to upload a prevent in within reach Lipica, house of the Lipizzaner horses you will have noticed appearing in Vienna. Bicycle excursions of the karst area are some other nice choice.
Professional tip: Permit some time beyond regulation for a longer hike in the course of the karst panorama and the fascinating village of Škočjan. Mountain climbing trails are neatly marked, ranging from the top of the cave excursion.
Pivka Cave: Journey for Thrill Seekers
For those who got here to Slovenia for a high-octane journey, you’re in good fortune. With a little bit making plans forward, you’ll e book an adrenalin excursion within the huge underground of Postojna Cave Park. The entire particular apparatus you’ll want is integrated in the cost of the guided excursion.
The Luka Čeč excursion in Pivka Cave is called for the lamplighter who found out the cave device in 1818, however toiled in poverty for many years prior to getting the credit score he deserved. Be ready for rappelling down rock faces, slogging via dust and paddling via an underground lake.
You actually have a likelihood to identify the newborn dragons and different distinctive cave species of their herbal habitat. This journey was once so epic for my circle of relatives of 3 that it merits its personal film, as you’ll see on this video:
The Bat Cave beneath the Fort
A much less tough journey permits you to discover the Windy Hollow and different passageways beneath Predjama Fort. Other variations of this guided excursion are appropriate for older youngsters and youths.
However watch out for bats! The constant year-round temperature makes the fort caves a hibernating spot. Excursions should be reserved upfront from Would possibly to September, when the bats are wakeful.
Professional tip: Gas up to your journey at Gostilna Požar, a pleasant mid-priced eating place serving Slovenian specialties with a picture-postcard view of Predjama Fort.
Idrija Mercury Mine: Underground Historical past
Historical past paired with caves in Slovenia! This excursion covers 500 years of UNESCO international heritage within the 700 km of mercury mine tunnels beneath the city of Idrija. Anthony’s Shaft is the oldest preserved mine front in Europe.
The excursion starts with a film concerning the demanding lives of the mercury miners. A information dressed in a mine foreman’s uniform takes you into the tunnels. You’ll see the numbered medallions miners wore all through their shifts at the “dying clock.” They stopped at an underground chapel to hope for a protected go back.
Miners stored up their spirits with sturdy drink. They believed the mine was once haunted by way of a mischievous elf who would cause them to the quicksilver — or nugatory rocks. Idrija prospered because it was one of the crucial greatest mercury mines on this planet. Sadly, the wealth didn’t trickle right down to the poorly paid miners.
The miners labored with out protection apparatus till fashionable occasions. What number of died from mercury poisoning and comparable sicknesses? They all. However you’ll be completely protected within the heat jacket and protecting helmet integrated with the excursion. Be expecting quite a lot of strolling on slippery surfaces and stairs.
In finding out extra on this video:
Idrija Dumplings and Lace
Above flooring, the miners’ better halves stored busy with lacemaking, a convention that continues nowadays. The hand made lace offered within the native stores makes a ravishing memento to take house.
Don’t put out of your mind to take a look at the normal Idrija dumplings known as žlikrofi. Served with hearty sauce, they have been a filling meal for the hard-working miners. The preferred eating place is Gostilna Pri Škafarju, only a brief stroll from the doorway to the mine excursion, however the dumplings are served in most of the native eateries.
Getting there: Idrija may also be reached by way of automotive on an afternoon travel from Ljubljana. In finding excursion occasions and price tag data at the web site.
Professional tip: In case you have extra time, consult with Gewerkenegg Fort, which looms over the slender streets of the small, pleasant the city. It’s full of reveals concerning the historical past of mercury mining and lacemaking in Idrija.
Making plans a travel to Slovenia? The largest mistake you’ll make isn’t permitting sufficient time for all the nature and historical past this is packed into this small nation – the caves in Slovenia specifically. It’s a miniature model of Europe in a single blank, inexperienced, sustainable bundle.
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