Postojna Cave
波斯托伊纳溶洞 · Postojna, Slovenia
A karst cave with about 24 km of known passages: ride the world's only double-track cave railway deep inside, see the five-metre white stalagmite known as the Brilliant, and look out for the olm, nicknamed the "human fish".
Know before you go
- Touching stalactites and stalagmites
- using flash or a tripod
- recording the guide's commentary
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
The lamp-lighter's discovery
In 1818, the local lamp-lighter Luka Čeč was preparing the cave for a visit by the Austrian Emperor Francis I when he discovered a previously unknown section. The following year the cave became an official tourist attraction, and Čeč became its first official guide.
Legend
Baby dragons
In 1689, Valvasor's "The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola" gave the first written account of the olm. After heavy rain, olms were often washed out of their underground waters, and local people believed they were the young of dragons living beneath the earth, which is why the olm is also called the "baby dragon" today.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Postojna Cave lies near the town of Postojna in south-western Slovenia. It was carved out of limestone by the Pivka River, its known passages run for about 24 km, and about 5 km are open to visitors. Graffiti in the cave dates from 1213, and the 17th-century scholar Valvasor was the first to describe it. The cave became an official tourist attraction in 1819. In 1872 rails were laid inside and the first tourist cave train began running, at first pushed by the guides; in 1884 electric lighting was installed, earlier than in Ljubljana, then the capital of Carniola. During the First World War, Russian prisoners of war were forced to build a bridge over a deep chasm in the cave, today's Russian Bridge. The white stalagmite called the Brilliant is about 5 m tall and is a symbol of the cave and of the Slovenian Karst. The olm is the world's largest cave-dwelling amphibian, usually 20 to 30 cm long, and locals call it the "human fish" because its skin is close to human skin colour.
Local customs
- Ride the cave train deep into the cave, then follow your guide on foot past the stalagmite forests and the Concert Hall
- stop at the olm tank to see this creature that spends its whole life in darkness
- afterwards, visit nearby Predjama Castle, built into the mouth of a cave in a cliff.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Touching stalactites and stalagmites
- using flash or a tripod
- recording the guide's commentary
- leaving the path
Locals appreciate DO
- Stay on the path with your guide
- wear warm clothes and suitable shoes
- watch the olms quietly
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- The cave stays at about 10°C all year, so bring a jacket and wear suitable shoes
- the guided tour takes about an hour and a half, including the train ride and just over a kilometre on foot with one uphill stretch. On regular tours you may take photos and videos, but not with flash or a tripod
- follow the official rules. Tickets and opening hours follow official information, and in high season check booking details in advance.
- Postojna is about an hour from Ljubljana by train or car, and the cave is on the edge of town
- trains also run from the Trieste direction. The cave's temperature does not change with the seasons, so you can visit all year
- summer is busiest and winter quieter, and special events around Christmas are as officially announced.
Photos
Photos
Maxim Shesterikov · CC BY-SA 4.0
Maxim Shesterikov · CC BY-SA 4.0
