Caves Gemer

Only a few villages in Slovakia can boast their own karst wealth. One of these exceptional villages is Bretka, located in the Rožňava district, less than 30 km southwest of the district town. On the territory of this small village, you can take a trip through a protected area, which also includes Hutnianska jaskyňa. Its mysterious underground without electric lighting breathes with ancient history.

Through a narrow karst valley, of which the underground corridor is also a part, you will be guided by the Prielom Muráňa educational trail. The starting point of your trip will be the village of Bretka. From here, you will follow an easy loop route approximately 3.2 km in length. Hutnianska jaskyňa will be your last, sixth stop. The underground corridor is 11 meters long. Since the cave is not illuminated, we recommend packing a flashlight or headlamp and sturdy footwear.

The underground is without dripstone decoration, which, however, does not detract from the cave's unique, mysterious atmosphere. Archaeological research has shown that the cave spaces were inhabited as early as the Bronze Age. Later, during World War II, the Germans had their command shelter here. Today, the cave is freely accessible to visitors for recovery and getting to know its natural beauty and historical values. In 1994, the underground was declared a natural monument.

You will probably be surprised, but Hutnianska jaskyňa is not the only accessible underground area in Bretka. Along the educational trail, you will also come across Jaskyňa Peško, whose underground passage is 17 meters long. In the immediate vicinity, we recommend visiting the remnants of one of the oldest Slovak fortresses, Hrad Gemer. And if you enjoy your time underground, head to the nearby Jaskyňa Domica or take a trip through the corridors of Gombasecká jaskyňa. If you decide to stay longer in Gemer, book accommodation near Hutnianska jaskyňa. You can choose from the accommodation offer in Bretka or opt for accommodation in Rožňava.

Caves attract many tourists. Their beauty and mystery, normally hidden from our sight, can take your breath away. Imagine a place where sunlight does not reach—a realm of mythical gnomes. A fairytale idea. We will take you to just such a place. And even something more. Dobšinská ľadová jaskyňa is a crystal-clear kingdom frozen in eternal ice.

Dobšinská ľadová jaskyňa is far from ordinary. Unique is its ice decoration as well as its location. Compared to other ice caves, the cave is situated at a lower altitude. Due to all these unique features, it is inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. And not just anything makes it onto this list.

You will find the cave near the village of Stratená in the cadastral area of the town of Dobšiná. It lies on the main route between Poprad and Rožňava in a beautiful environment near Slovenský raj. When you arrive in Stratená, you will certainly look forward to the tour. And indeed, there is much to look forward to. Expectation will be raised by an educational trail leading to the entrance of the cave. On the way, you will pass 5 information boards that will familiarize you with the nature of Slovenský raj, its gorges, as well as its plants and animals. In front of the cave, there are additional information panels full of engaging facts focused directly on Dobšinská ľadová jaskyňa.

The cave did not always have the grand name known today; locals used to nickname it "ice hole" due to the cold spreading from it. The first explorers entered its depths in 1870, and just a year later it was opened to the public. It thus became one of the earliest opened caves in the world. Definitive electric lighting was installed in the cave in 1887. An interesting fact is that public ice skating was permitted here for a certain period.

The length of the route accessible to tourists is 515 meters of icy magnificence. A half-hour tour will show you the most precious, permanently glaciated parts of the cave, mainly Veľká sieň and Malá sieň. Prepare yourself for a considerable temperature shock; in the coldest parts of the cave, it can drop to -4 °C. So do not forget to bring warm clothing.

In the cave, you will admire not only floor ice, but also ice pillars and icefalls. Be assured that the ice in the cave has accumulated over centuries. The proof is its maximum thickness of more than 26 meters.

The surroundings of Dobšinská ľadová jaskyňa are full of points of interest; the beautiful nature of Slovenský raj speaks for itself. Since this is one of the most sought-after tourist locations in Slovakia, you will have no shortage of pleasant accommodation. Pleasant small guesthouses with a family atmosphere predominate here, where you will feel right at home. The offer of chalets in the beautiful mountain environment is also varied, where you will be woken up by the chirping of birds. The environment of Dobšiná is enchanting, and rest assured that you will want to return here soon.

Did you know that the lowest-lying ice cave in the world is located in the Slovenskom krase? Silická ľadnica is situated at an altitude of only 503 m a. s. l., and a yellow-marked tourist trail leading from the village of Silica will take you to it. The dominant feature of the Silickej planiny was formed in the Mesozoic middle Triassic limestones of the Silického príkrovu by the underground stream of the Čierneho potoka, which flows into the nearby Gombaseckej jaskyne. Despite the fact that the cave is not freely accessible, a pleasant hike awaits you, which even your little ones can manage.

The journey along the marked forest path will take you approximately 20 minutes at a leisurely pace. The staircase by the cave itself is slippery due to the presence of moisture, so increase your caution when descending. The entrance portal gate, which is partially iced over, will surely captivate you. At this altitude and latitude, this is an exceptional climatic phenomenon. This remarkable ice cave is 1,100 m long and its interior reaches a depth of up to 100 m. Archaeological finds prove that the cave was inhabited as early as the Neolithic period before it became iced over.

Behind the entrance abyss lies a hidden underground world accessible only to experienced cavers. The main, sloping part of the sinkhole is bordered by a 15 m high icefall, which divides the lower surface into two parts. At the bottom of the ice abyss is a 20 m long opening that leads to the Archeologickému dómu. Inside it is the active upper course of the Čierneho potoka, which reaches the surface via the nearby Čiernou vyvieračkou. To get further, cavers must use diving equipment and swim through the 60 m long Kufr siphon. Upon surfacing, they find themselves in an extremely gigantic cave space decorated with magnificent dripstone decoration.

Silická ľadová jaskyňa was formed approximately 2,000 years ago by the collapse of the ceiling of an older underground dome. If you have been wondering why this cave bears the attribute ľadnica, we have a simple explanation for you. Those who guessed that cold air accumulates in it, turning water into ice, are right. Throughout the year, the temperature inside ranges around -2 to -5 °C. Not only the ice decoration but also certain species of bats enjoy the sub-zero temperatures. In the winter months, it is inhabited by the greater mouse-eared bat, the lesser horseshoe bat, and the rare Bechstein's bat. Due to its exceptional value, it was declared a national natural monument in 1982, and thirteen years later it became part of the UNESCO world cultural heritage.

If you still have the appetite to explore, head to the nearby village of Slavec and visit the now accessible Gombaseckú jaskyňu. In addition to majestic stalactites, you will also be charmed by ultra-thin white soda straws up to 3 m long. Book your accommodation near Silickej ľadnice and dedicate a few days to the beauties of the Rožňavského okresu. You will find a rich offer of accommodation facilities on the website accommodation in Silica. Add water relaxation at Kúpalisku Roňava, horse riding at Konskom Dvore, and a visit to the legend-shrouded Hradu Krásna Hôrka to your exceptional experiences.

The lesser-known Krásnohorská jaskyňa cave is located in Národný park Slovenský kras, near the village of Krásnohorská Dlhá Lúka. Entry to the cave must be arranged in advance, as it is always accompanied by experienced cavers. The minimum number of participants is 4 people, and due to the difficulty of the tour, it is not recommended for small children.

Krásnohorská jaskyňa boasts a unique rarity. It is home to the largest dripstone in the temperate climate zone, standing at an impressive height of 34 meters. This is also why the cave was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. During your tour, you will feel like real cavers, as the conditions closely resemble those experienced by speleologists when discovering underground spaces.

Before the tour begins, you will receive complete caving gear, and off you go to explore. A pleasant temperature of around 9 °C awaits you, and up to 4 species of bats will properly welcome you to the underground kingdom. Your adrenaline will rise as you scramble through rubble, traverse an underground stream, and wade through its shallower parts.

It is not worth visiting Slovenský kras for just one day. We therefore recommend staying near Krásnohorská jaskyňa or finding accommodation in Rožňava and planning further trips in Rožňava and its surroundings. Definitely set aside an entire day to explore Národný park Slovenský kras. A piece of history awaits you at Hrad Krásna Hôrka as well as in the magnificent Kaštieľ Betliar, where the Slovak TV series titled 1890 was filmed. And to properly balance your underground experience, we invite you to enjoy an astronomical adventure right at Hvezdáreň Rožňava.