Caving - meet some of the most impressive caves of Serbia

The caves and potholes of Serbia have been studied for more than 100 years and to date more than 4000 locations have been explored. Inflow, outflow and through-caves are predominant and the length of the largest caves ranges from 2 to 7.5 km. Because of the relatively thin limestone mass, potholes are fewer in number than caves. Both corrosive (karst) and ponor (active) cave types are equally represented in the group of the deepest locations. The depth of the largest caves ranges from 150 to 280 m.

Serbia’s caves are a notable feature on its map of tourist destinations, many of them of interest to visitors thanks to their attractive cave formations and beautiful natural phenomena. The greatest concentration of caves is found ineastern Serbia. Currently, there are seven caves which have been made suitable for visiting by tourists, although the current state of the Marble Cave, located in Kosovo and Metohija, is not known.

The most well-known caves open to visitors are the Resavska, Zlotske Pećine, Rajkova, Potpećka, Bogovinska and Stopića Pećina caves. Of the caves which are only partially adapted or were once open to visitors but have since fallen into ruin, the most interesting are the Prekonoška and Petnička Pećina caves. Entry to these caves without an expert guide and appropriate equipment is not permitted.

   Resavska cave

Resavska cave

The Resavska Pećina cave is in eastern Serbia, in the region of Gornja Resava, 20 km from the town ofDespotovac. It is set into the limestone hill of Babina Glava on the fringes of the Divljakovac karst polje, its entrance at 485 m above sea-level. It is one of the oldest caves in Serbia, some 80 million years old, with some of the older formations dating back around 45 million years. Its formation began before the Great Ice Age through the chemical and mechanical action of a subterranean river running through the limestone bedrock.It was opened to visitors in 1972. The cave is 4.5 km long, 2830 m have been investigated in detail and around 800 m have been made accessible to visitors. The temperature in the Resava cave is a constant 7°C all year round, with air humidity varying between 80 and 100%.The interior of the cave abounds in numerous and varied halls, channels, galleries, columns, stalactites, stalagmites, draperies and flowstone waterfalls. The cave formations begin at the very entrance to the cave. The formations came about through the dissolving and precipitation of calcium carbonate, and the colour determined by the minerals through which the water passed. Three colours can be seen, red (from iron oxide), white (from crystalline calcite) and yellow (from the addition of clay).

The Resava cave has the status of a protected natural monument and this includes the surrounding area of 11 hectares.

  Rajkova cave

The Rajkova Pećina cave is in eastern Serbia, 2 km from Majdanpek. It is reached via a tarmac road along the banks of the Mali Pek river and the Veliki Zaton artificial lake. The whole region surrounding the source of the Mali Pek is rich in mixed woodlands of beech, maple and oak, and is unique both for its natural life and its caves.

Rajkova Pećina got its name from the renowned Rajko Vojvoda, who is thought to have lived in the 19th century. According to tradition, he was an innkeeper by day, but by night he robbed Turkish caravans and hid the treasure in this cave. The cave was first explored by the geographerJovan Cvijić in 1894 .

The entrance section of the cave, from the direction of the village of Rajkovo, was occupied by humans even in prehistory, as evidenced by a stone hammer now kept in the archaeological collection in the Majdanpek Museum. Rajkova Pećina is an open cave, through which theRajkova Reka river flows. Upon leaving the cave, it merges into the Paskova Reka river which also flows from the cave, and thus the Mali Pek is formed.

In terms of its characteristics and evolution it is one of the most interesting caves in Serbia. The cave has two levels, a descending section and an emerging section which differ, the lower being hydrologically active, the upper dry. With 2304 m of tunnels so far explored it is the longest cave in Serbia.

  Potpećka cave

The Potpećka Pećina cave is in the village of Potpeće, 14 km southeast of Užice. It is unique in its monumental entrance in the shape of a horseshoe. The entrance is 50 m, the width at the base is 12 m, and 22 m under the arch, making it the largest cave mouth in Serbia. It is carved into a limestone cliff, the vertical portion of which is 72 m high. The explored section, adapted for visitors, is 555 m long. The path in and out of the cave has over 700 steps.Two distinct levels can be differentiated in the Potpećka cave’s tunnels: the older – the Upper Cave and the more recent – the Lower Cave. The entrance tunnel is shared by both levels and came about through the destruction of the dividing rock between them. The abundance of cave formations is a rarity in karst caves.

Potpećka cave

There are 3 types of channels in the Potpećka cave which can be divided according to their evolution: the fossil(Upper Cave), the periodically active (the longer portion of the Lower Cave) and the constantly active (the most recent, underground river course).

The mean annual air temperature is 9.5°C, with the maximum temperature in July and the minimum in January.

It is thought likely that the cave was inhabited by humans as far back as the Neolithic period. Archaeological remains have been found in the cave, such as ceramics, fashioned deer antlers and flint weapons.

The Potpećka Pećina cave is protected as a natural monument.