Descend into Slovenia's ancient Postojna Caves
Explore vast Limestone Caverns on an underground Electric Train
Mar 27, 2009
Among the most dramatic however is the extensive network of underground cave systems formed millions of years ago that created Slovenia’s best known tourist attraction at Postojna.
Postojna Caves in Slovenia
The Postojna Caves in south west Slovenia are part of a larger underground phenomenon here formed as acidic rain gradually dissolved weak points in the predominant limestone bedrock, creating channels that widened over many years to form spectacular subterranean caves.
Postojna itself is home to a 20 kilometre system tracking the course of the underground Pivka River, six km of which are open to visitors on a 90 minute tour with an unusual twist. The first four km or so are explored via an electric train, before disembarking to complete the remainder on foot.
Explore Limestone Caverns via an Electric Train
There is a real sense of the forces at work shaping this underground landscape as the train weaves through lit limestone caverns containing hundreds of perfectly preserved stalactites and stalagmites, many still increasing in size by a fraction per year as dissolved calcium carbonate deposits build up.
Cavern sizes range from little above head height to vast chambers, one of which - the Concert Hall - has such excellent acoustics it has played host to a 10,000 capacity underground orchestral venue.
Guests tread some of the same paths as their Ice Age ancestors, evidence of whose sheltering activities have been discovered along with the remains of animals dating from the same period.
The caves have been open as a tourist attraction since 1819 but evidence of ’unofficial’ visits from much earlier is located in a fascinating section marked by wall signature graffiti, the earliest of which dates back to the C13th.
The mysterious cave-dwelling Olm or Human Fish
Another unusual feature of the caves is the mysterious Olm - the so-called Human Fish - a 25cm long Salamander-like creature that is the largest known permanent cave-dwelling vertebrate. Completely blind, it can live up to 100 years in the pitch black underground and have scientists confused as to its exact classification.
For example, the Olm breathes through gills when submerged but can also breathe through rudimentary lungs above water and has a tail for swimming but can also propel itself on four small legs.
The Olm is just one of the many bizarre and fantastic sights to be experienced beneath the surface at Postojna and although often popular with crowds, a chance to see up close a geological work in progress by Mother Nature dwarfing the scale of human history should not be passed over.
Entrance to the Postojna Caves (year round) costs €20 for adults, €16 students and €13 children ($27/ $21/ $17), with combi tickets available to view the nearby Proteus Vivarium, a cave displaying some of the creatures found underground in their natural habitat. Special cave tours can also be booked to other cave systems not accessible to the general public. For further information visit the Postojna Caves website here.
Buses heading from the capital Ljubljana to Koper, Piran or Novo Gorica all stop in the small town of Postojna and are the best method of visiting the caves.
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