Postojna Cave

Postojna Cave (Slovene: Postojnska jama; German: Adelsberger Grotte; Italian: Grotte di Postumia) is a 20,570 m long Karst cave system near Postojna, Slovenia. It is the longest cave system in the country as well as one of its top tourism sites .

History

The caves were created by the Pivka River.

The cave was first described in the 17th century by Johann Weichard Valvasor (Slovene: Janez Vajkard Valvasor), and a new area of the cave was discovered accidentally in 1818 by local Luka Čeč, when he was preparing the then known parts of the cave for a visit by Francis I, the first Emperor of Austria. In 1819, the caves were opened to the public, and Čeč went on to become the first official tourist guide for the caves. Electric lighting was added in 1884, preceding even Ljubljana, the capital of Carniola, the Austro-Hungarian province the cave was part of at the time, and further enhancing the cave system's popularity. In 1872 rails were laid in the cave along with first cave train for tourists. At first, these were pushed along by the guides themselves, later at the beginning of the 20th century a gas locomotive was introduced. After 1945, the gas locomotive was replaced by an electric one. 5.3 km of the caves are open to the public, the longest publicly accessible depth of any cave system in the world.

Natural environment

The caves are also home to the endemic olm, the largest trogloditic amphibian in the world. Part of the tour through the caves used to include a pool with some olms in it, though these have been removed recently due to the effect of flashes from visiting tourists' cameras had on the sensitive skin of the olms.

Photogallery

Notes and references

See also

  • List of caves
  • List of caves in Slovenia

External links

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Alina Maatjes-Siletskaya
Stunning huge cave of great beauty. You will get there by 2km train track and will be guided around the pathway. In the end of the tour you also get to see underground river. Amazing experience!
Gizem Z
29 October 2017
Feel like in a fantastic world. Totally amazing experience, will never forget. Must see this incredible cave&human fish. Entrance fee was 27 Eur, tour takes around 1,5-2 hr. Get your coat, cold inside
Mark Liu
27 October 2018
Wow like wow. Epic cave must visit. For families with kids bring foldable strollers. The aquarium was good also. Last tour at 4pm. The guide might treat you to a song.
Se7enthAngel
2 January 2018
Highlight for us was at the end of the tour when there a surprise performance by a saxophonist playing wondrous Christmas tunes. In a world full of divine limestone sculptures, music sounded magical.
Jernej
8 August 2015
The cave is amazing, a bit expensive but still worth the money. Make sure you have some warm clothes. Avoid restaurants around, nothing special and way overpriced.
Jefferson Lisboa
4 February 2016
Se você comprou a entrada na estação de ônibus de Ljubljana, por exemplo, você tem que trocá-la pelo ingresso quando chegar #ficadika a caverna é linda e a visita vale a pena (:
Load more comments
foursquare.com

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Hotel Kras

starting $92

Postojna Cave Hotel Jama

starting $138

Hotel Sport

starting $74

City center blue sky house

starting $47

Hotel Epicenter

starting $60

Lipica - Hotel Maestoso

starting $63

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Križna jama

Križna jama (Križna Cave or Cave of the Cross) is a cave located in L

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Predjama Castle

llama Castle' (Slovene: Predjamski grad or Grad Predjama, German:

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Trilek Castle

Trilek Castle (slovenščina. Grad Trilek) is a small castle or fort n

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Baumkircher Tower

The Baumkircher Tower (slovenščina. Baumkircherjev Turn, from D

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Vipava Castle

Vipava Castle (slovenščina. Grad Vipava, Deutsch. Schloss Alt W

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Lož Castle

Lož Castle (Slovene: Grad Lož, German: Schloss Laas), also known as P

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Škocjan Caves

Škocjan Caves (Slovene: Škocjanske jame; Italian: Grotte di San C

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Leutemberg Castle

Leutemberg Castle is a castle in Vipava, Slovenia. It was originally

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Blanchard Springs Caverns

Blanchard Springs Caverns is a cave system located in the Ozark–St. F

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Caves of Nerja

The Caves of Nerja (español. Cueva de Nerja) are a series of caverns

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Avshalom Cave

Avshalom Cave (Hebrew: מערת אבשלום‎), also known as Soreq Cave or Sta

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Aven d'Orgnac

Aven d'Orgnac is a cave located near Orgnac-l'Aven, in the Ardèche

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Anna Cave

The Anna Cave (also called Petőfi Cave) is a natural limestone cave

See all similar places