In the hidden gem that is Slovenia and in the bosom of classical Karst you’ll find one of most breath-taking and important cave systems in the world, Škocjan Caves.
Above ground Slovenia is a magical place with a spectacular variety of landscapes, rich forests and beautiful mountain ranges. Slovenia also boosts luxurious Mediterranean style coastlines making this an idyllic holiday destination.
The Škocjan Caves provide Slovenia with a unique mysterious subterranean world that shows fantastic examples of natural beauty with great aesthetic value. Due to its importance Škocjan Caves have been on the UNESCO list of natural & cultural world heritages sites since 1986. The exceptional volume of the underground canyon is what distinguishes them from other caves and places it among the most famous underground caves in the world. In terms of cultural value and worldly significance the Škocjan Caves rank on par with the Grand Canyon, Mount Everest and the Great Barrier Reef among others. The vastness of the caves is such that is has its own ecosystem due to its particular microclimatic conditions.
The Reka River sinks under a rocky wall and on top lies Škocjan village, after which the caves are named.
The site shows evidence of it being occupied since prehistoric times and has great cultural, historical and religious significance. There is evidence that the caves where inhabited more than ten thousand years ago. Peter Turk as written about the archaeological findings at great length, you can read his paper here. There are indications of Greek influences on a temple found in Fly Cave (Mušja Jama) also during the late Bronze Age rituals where carried out above Fly Cave (Mušja Jama), artifacts from these rituals have been recovered.
Škocjan Caves welcomes tourist and the park itself offers guided tours through the vast network of caves, visit www.park-skocjanske-jame.si for more information.
The Škocjan Caves make an ideal excursion while visiting Ljubljana, or even Lake Bled. If you’re staying in Ljubljana you can visit Škocjan Caves by hiring a vehicle or via train. The closest train station to Škocjan Caves is Divača and it’s a 3km walk to the caves. You can also find a museum about 10 minutes from the information centre which displays artefacts found within the caves. Please note the collections are open from June to September, from 11:30 to 19:30. Please wear appropriate footwear for trekking while visiting the caves.
Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0kocjan_Caves for more information
Flow Traveller 