By Lambe Lamis 
Table of Contents
You’ve been charmed through the streets of Ljubljana and awestruck through the alpine wonders of Bled. However your talk over with to Slovenia isn’t entire till you’ve skilled no less than some of the 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 Citadel: international’s greatest cave citadel
- 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, attention-grabbing historical past, epic journey or even a Disneyland-style educate journey.
Postojna Cave: Available Slovenia Cave Journey
If in case you have time for just one Slovenia cave journey, make it Postojna Cave. This herbal marvel 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 simply’re in a cave-themed amusement park. Don’t depression if there’s a line to board the educate; it strikes briefly.
The three.7 km educate journey makes probably the most astounding chambers and galleries obtainable for every age and talents. Don’t pass over the huge Dance Corridor, lit through Murano glass chandeliers. There may be an not obligatory 1.5 km stroll to the enduring “Sensible” formation.
Remember to keep seated at the educate because it whips previous the overhead rocks with fatal pace. Please admire nature through now not touching the formations. They shaped over thousands and 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.
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 reside for 100 years and will live on a decade with out meals. Purchase a separate price tag to the Vivarium to be told extra about the entire creatures of the underground international.
When to Discuss with: Postojna Cave is open 12 months a yr. There’s an underground nativity scene all through the vacations. Deliver a heat jacket on account of the consistent 10-degree Celsius temperature, year-round. To keep away from the summer time crowds in June, July and August, arrive when the cave opens at 9 am. The large excursion teams arrive later within the morning.
Getting there: Postojna Cave Park is a simple day go back and forth from Ljubljana or Bled, through automotive or bus. Reserve tickets on-line or purchase on the price tag place of business.
Professional tip: Keep on the Resort Jama to skip the price tag line and get a cut price on excursion applications. Tenting within the space could also be well-liked. There’s a car park for motorhomes. There’s even a unfastened kennel the place your puppy can wait whilst you excursion the cave.
Predjama Citadel: Mighty Slovenia Cave Castle
Predjama Citadel, the sector’s greatest cave fort, is just a brief force from Postonja Cave. You’ll simply talk over with each at the similar day with a mixed “Two Adventures” price tag or mixed excursion.
Many workforce excursions handiest forestall for the insta-worthy photograph alternative of the Slovenia cave citadel rising from cast karst rock. However you will have to plan to move inside of and be informed the attention-grabbing historical past.
The fifteenth Century knight Erazem withstood a siege for greater than a yr through smuggling in contemporary meals during the cave tunnels. Unfortunately, he didn’t live on a cannonball that struck the citadel at its maximum prone level: the bathroom.
Make a want as you ring the citadel’s bell. It used to be used to warn of drawing near invaders. You handiest must recognize the view of the encircling geographical region.
Professional tip: Get the Predjama Citadel audio information for a vibrant description of lifestyles within the Center Ages as you stroll during the torture chamber and weapon rooms.
Škočjan Caves: UNESCO heritage Slovenia Cave
For a extra herbal Slovenia cave enjoy, talk over 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 through the underground cathedrals, carved out over the centuries through the Reka River. Images isn’t allowed for lots of the excursion throughout the caves. Close to the go out, there’s a photograph alternative that conveys the majesty of what you could have simply skilled.
Robust climbing sneakers are a will have to, in addition to a jacket for the underground relax. Be ready for slippery pavement and masses of steps. This journey isn’t really helpful for small children or the ones with mobility issues.
Getting there: You’ll talk over with Škočjan Caves on a day go back and forth from Ljubljana through automotive. Purchase tickets on-line or on the price tag place of business. Horse fans might wish to upload a forestall in close by Lipica, house of the Lipizzaner horses you could have observed acting in Vienna. Bicycle excursions of the karst area are any other nice possibility.
Professional tip: Permit some overtime for a longer hike during the karst panorama and the captivating village of Škočjan. Climbing trails are smartly marked, ranging from the tip of the cave excursion.
Pivka Cave: Journey for Thrill Seekers
In case you got here to Slovenia for a high-octane journey, you’re in good fortune. With a bit making plans forward, you’ll be able to e book an adrenalin excursion within the huge underground of Postojna Cave Park. The entire particular apparatus you are going to want is integrated in the cost of the guided excursion.
The Luka Čeč excursion in Pivka Cave is known as for the lamplighter who came upon the cave device 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 even have a likelihood to identify the newborn dragons and different distinctive cave species of their herbal habitat. This journey used to be 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 children and teenagers.
However watch out for bats! The constant year-round temperature makes the citadel caves a hibernating spot. Excursions will have to be reserved upfront from Might to September, when the bats are wakeful.
Professional tip: Gas 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 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 not easy 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 “demise clock.” They stopped at an underground chapel to wish for a protected go back.
Miners saved up their spirits with sturdy drink. They believed the mine used to be haunted through a mischievous elf who would cause them to the quicksilver — or nugatory rocks. Idrija prospered because it become some of the greatest mercury mines on the planet. Sadly, the wealth didn’t trickle right down to the poorly paid miners.
The miners labored with out protection apparatus till trendy 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 a number of strolling on slippery surfaces and stairs.
In finding out extra on this video:
Idrija Dumplings and Lace
Above flooring, the miners’ better halves saved busy with lacemaking, a convention that continues nowadays. The hand made lace bought within the native stores makes an exquisite memento to take house.
Don’t disregard to take a look at the normal Idrija dumplings referred to 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 brief stroll from the doorway to the mine excursion, however the dumplings are served in lots of the native eateries.
Getting there: Idrija will also be reached through automotive on an afternoon go back and forth from Ljubljana. In finding excursion occasions and price tag knowledge at the site.
Professional tip: If in case you have extra time, talk over with Gewerkenegg Citadel, which looms over the slim streets of the small, pleasant the town. It’s full of reveals concerning the historical past of mercury mining and lacemaking in Idrija.
Making plans a go back and forth to Slovenia? The largest mistake you’ll be able to make isn’t permitting sufficient time for all the nature and historical past this is packed into this small nation – the caves in Slovenia particularly. It’s a miniature model of Europe in a single blank, inexperienced, sustainable bundle.
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