By Lambe Lamis 
Table of Contents
You’ve been charmed by means of the streets of Ljubljana and awestruck by means of the alpine wonders of Bled. However your discuss with to Slovenia isn’t whole till you’ve skilled a minimum of one of the crucial most sensible 5 caves in Slovenia.
Listed below are the highest guidelines from Terry Anzur, a Slovenian-American journalist on the weblog Strangers within the Dwelling Room:
- Postojna Cave: one thing for everybody
- Predjama Cave Citadel: global’s biggest 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 attractiveness, interesting historical past, epic journey or even a Disneyland-style teach experience.
Postojna Cave: Out there 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, an area lamplighter stumbled into the cave and declared: “This is paradise.”
Greater than 40 million folks have visited Postojna Cave since then. It’s the 3rd maximum visited appeal in Slovenia, after Ljubljana and Bled. Now and then, you’ll have the sensation that you just’re in a cave-themed amusement park. Don’t melancholy if there’s a line to board the teach; it strikes briefly.
The three.7 km teach experience makes essentially the most astounding chambers and galleries available for every age and talents. Don’t omit the huge Dance Corridor, lit by means of Murano glass chandeliers. There’s an not obligatory 1.5 km stroll to the enduring “Sensible” formation.
You should definitely keep seated at the teach because it whips previous the overhead rocks with fatal pace. Please admire nature by means of no longer touching the formations. They shaped over hundreds of thousands of years, one drop of water at a time.
For max enjoyment, put down your digital camera. Within the low mild, your telephone footage usually are disappointing. Flash images isn’t allowed. Skilled photographers want permission to arrange lighting fixtures.
Sign up for this Postojna Cave excursion from Ljubljana!
Slovenia’s Child Dragons
Children will love seeing the “child dragons,” a novel 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 ticket to the Vivarium to be told extra about the entire creatures of the underground global.
When to Consult with: Postojna Cave is open one year a yr. There’s an underground nativity scene all through the vacations. Carry a heat jacket as a result of the consistent 10-degree Celsius temperature, year-round. To steer clear of the summer season 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 commute from Ljubljana or Bled, by means of automobile or bus. Reserve tickets on-line or purchase on the price ticket place of work.
Professional tip: Keep on the Lodge Jama to skip the price ticket line and get a cut price on excursion programs. Tenting within the house may be well-liked. There’s a carpark for motorhomes. There’s even a loose kennel the place your puppy can wait whilst you excursion the cave.
Predjama Citadel: Mighty Slovenia Cave Fort
Predjama Citadel, the arena’s biggest cave castle, is just a quick force from Postonja Cave. You’ll simply discuss with each at the identical day with a mixed “Two Adventures” price ticket or mixed excursion.
Many crew excursions handiest prevent for the insta-worthy picture alternative of the Slovenia cave fort rising from cast karst rock. However you will have to plan to head within and be informed the interesting historical past.
The fifteenth Century knight Erazem withstood a siege for greater than a yr by means of smuggling in recent meals throughout the cave tunnels. Unfortunately, he didn’t live to tell the tale a cannonball that struck the fort at its maximum susceptible level: the bathroom.
Make a want as you ring the fort’s bell. It was once used to warn of coming near invaders. You handiest need to respect the view of the encompassing geographical region.
Professional tip: Get the Predjama Citadel audio information for a bright description of lifestyles within the Center Ages as you stroll throughout the torture chamber and weapon rooms.
Škočjan Caves: UNESCO heritage Slovenia Cave
For a extra herbal Slovenia cave enjoy, discuss with the Škočjan Caves in Slovenia. UNESCO has arranged a guided excursion that items the underground global heritage whilst respecting the surroundings.
You’ll be awestruck by means of the underground cathedrals, carved out over the centuries by means of the Reka River. Pictures isn’t allowed for lots of the excursion throughout the caves. Close to the go out, there’s a photo alternative that conveys the majesty of what you have got simply skilled.
Strong mountain climbing footwear are a should, in addition to a jacket for the underground sit 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 discuss with Škočjan Caves on a day commute from Ljubljana by means of automobile. Purchase tickets on-line or on the price ticket place of work. Horse fans might wish to upload a prevent in within sight Lipica, house of the Lipizzaner horses you might have observed acting in Vienna. Bicycle excursions of the karst area are every other nice choice.
Professional tip: Permit some additional time for a longer hike throughout the karst panorama and the captivating village of Škočjan. Mountain climbing trails are neatly marked, ranging from the top of the cave excursion.
Pivka Cave: Journey for Thrill Seekers
In the event you got here to Slovenia for a high-octane journey, you’re in good fortune. With somewhat making plans forward, you’ll e-book an adrenalin excursion within the huge underground of Postojna Cave Park. All the particular apparatus you are going to want is incorporated in the cost of the guided excursion.
The Luka Čeč excursion in Pivka Cave is known as for the lamplighter who found out the cave gadget in 1818, however toiled in poverty for many years earlier than 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 probability to identify the child 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 underneath the Citadel
A much less difficult journey means that you can discover the Windy Hollow and different passageways beneath Predjama Citadel. Other variations of this guided excursion are appropriate for older youngsters and teenagers.
However watch out for bats! The constant year-round temperature makes the fort caves a hibernating spot. Excursions should be reserved upfront from Might to September, when the bats are unsleeping.
Professional tip: Gasoline up on your journey at Gostilna Požar, a pleasant mid-priced eating place serving Slovenian specialties with a picture-postcard view of Predjama Citadel.
Idrija Mercury Mine: Underground Historical past
Historical past paired with caves in Slovenia! This excursion covers 500 years of UNESCO global heritage within the 700 km of mercury mine tunnels beneath town 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 “loss of life clock.” They stopped at an underground chapel to hope for a secure go back.
Miners stored up their spirits with sturdy drink. They believed the mine was once haunted by means of a mischievous elf who would cause them to the quicksilver — or nugatory rocks. Idrija prospered because it changed into one of the crucial biggest mercury mines on the earth. Sadly, the wealth didn’t trickle all the way down to the poorly paid miners.
The miners labored with out protection apparatus till trendy instances. What number of died from mercury poisoning and similar diseases? They all. However you’ll be completely secure within the heat jacket and protecting helmet incorporated with the excursion. Be expecting plenty 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 lately. The hand made lace offered within the native retail outlets makes a phenomenal memento to take house.
Don’t put out of your mind to check out the normal Idrija dumplings known as žlikrofi. Served with hearty sauce, they have been a filling meal for the hard-working miners. The most well liked eating place is Gostilna Pri Škafarju, only a quick stroll from the doorway to the mine excursion, however the dumplings are served in most of the native eateries.
Getting there: Idrija can also be reached by means of automobile on an afternoon commute from Ljubljana. In finding excursion instances and price ticket data at the web page.
Professional tip: In case you have extra time, discuss with Gewerkenegg Citadel, which looms over the slim streets of the small, pleasant the town. It’s stuffed with reveals concerning the historical past of mercury mining and lacemaking in Idrija.
Making plans a commute to Slovenia? The most important mistake you’ll make isn’t permitting sufficient time for the entire 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 package deal.
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