People have been drawn to this place for thousands of years: archaeologists have found traces of human presence going back more than 10,000 years, and in the Bronze and Iron Ages the caves were an important cult site. A visitors’ book was started in 1819, and systematic exploration began in 1884. In 1999 the caves were also listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance.
Guided tours lead first through the Silent Cave, a dry passage decorated with stalactites and stalagmites, including a huge stalagmite known as the Giant. Then the roar of the river announces the Murmuring Cave, where the path follows the canyon wall and the Cerkvenik Bridge crosses the gorge high above the rushing water, before you emerge into daylight in the Big Collapse Doline. The caves stay at around 12°C all year, so bring a warm layer and sturdy shoes.
It is a humbling experience that stays with you long after you return to the surface.
