Caves Worth Visiting: Postojna Cave, Slovenia

Slovenia’s Postojna Cave exceeded all my expectations. 

First of all, it was the largest and most impressive cave I’d ever visited. Secondly, its many outstanding formations of stalactites and stalagmites as well as columns extending from the cave floor to the ceiling were more spectacular than any I’d seen elsewhere. Then there were the cave’s mysterious olms, the world’s largest troglodytic amphibians.

I visited the cave on Sept. 16, 2012, while on the “Eastern Rhapsody” tour of Insight Vacations (Rye, NY; 888/680-1241). 

At the cave, the ride in the small, roller-coaster-style train from the entrance to the point where we were dropped off to start the walking tour was somewhat frightening. We careened and clattered around curves in the rail line for at least a mile, deep into the cave, with outcroppings of rock that seemed only inches above our heads.

There were meeting points marked with lighted signs where the walking tours in various languages began. Our guide, a somewhat scruffy, blond young fellow, turned out to be very knowledgeable, giving a well-rehearsed discourse about the cave in the Queen’s English.

In spite of the low light levels, and although we were hurried along too quickly, for my taste, it was still possible to take photographs in the unobtrusively lighted cave with its many fanciful formations.

Unfortunately, there was only a very small aquarium inside the cave where the olms were displayed. Also, there was no time allowed for visiting the nearby vivarium. I would have liked learning much more about the blind amphibians, often called “white salamanders,” that live in complete darkness and under water in the cave.

After the tour, I was surprised to find, at a nearby souvenir shop, some of the most outstanding displays I’d seen anywhere of jewelry in an amazing variety of gemstones.

Eleven kilometers from Postojna is the Renaissance-style Predjama Castle (Predjama 1 6230 Postojna), included with the tour of Postojna Cave. 

The castle is quite an impressive sight, built within a cave entrance and on cliffs above a deep ravine. There was no time to visit the castle’s interior, but we were told that a secret shaft leads from the castle to nearby Postojna Cave.

Postojna Cave is located about one kilometer from the town center of Postojna in southwestern Slovenia. A large car park is located about 300 meters from the cave entrance. 

During the main season, tours of the cave lasting about 1½ hours leave hourly, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the cave cost €22.90 (near $31); for the cave plus the castle, €27.90 ($38), and for the cave, castle and vivarium, €33.90 ($46).

For anyone visiting Slovenia, I strongly recommend that Postojna Cave not be missed.

DAVID J. PATTEN

St. Petersburg, FL