Saeva Dupka Cave

Saeva Dupka Cave is located near the village Brestnica, Lovech district, some 100 km east of Sofia. The entrance was found by two brothers – Seju and Saju, after whom the cave was named.

The first scientific research was carried out by Prof. Georgi Zlatarov in 1883. The first data about the cave were published at the end of the 19th Century, by Herman and Karel Shkorpil in their monograph on the carst waters in Bulgaria (1898). They were part of a group of several Czech scholars who came to Bulgaria after the liberation from the Ottoman rule in 1878.They were the first to document numerous archaeological sites spread all over Bulgarian lands, founding the modern Bulgarian archaeology.

Should you be interested in scientific study of the cave, please read “Dynamic Tectonics and Karst” by Stefan Shanov, Konstantin Kostov, Published by SPRINGER

The cave was given the status of Natural phenomenon in 1963 and electrified in 1967. Closed for visitors from 1990 to 2004, Saeva Dupka Cave reopened due to the local community’s efforts and good will to preserve the natural beauty of this spot.

The altitude of the cave is 510 m. The cave consists of one large gallery, divided in 5 big chambers. The total length of the galleries is 210 m, with a denivelation of 40 m; humidity is 90%, temperature – from 9o to 11o throughout the year.

The cave was formed during the Berriasian Age (145 million - 139.8 million years ago). It takes about an hour to visit the cave. All visits are guided by local guides who are knowledgeable, witty and always willing to show you all hidden secrets. The rich diversity of rock formations can tell you stories three-million-year old. Your imagination will be captured by fantastic stalactites, stalagmites and stalactones, one with a 3-meter diameter. Saeva Dupka is amazing, the views are stunning.

You can see bats hanging from the ceiling, too. You can learn about bats, there is a comprehensive information board placed at the cave’s entrance and produced by the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation. There are 8 species of bats that have international conservation status who live in this cave: Greater horseshoe (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), Lesser horseshoe (Rhinolophus hipposideros), Mediterranean horseshoe (Rhinolophus eutyale), Greater mouse-eared (Myotis myotis), Bechstein’s (Myotis bechsteinii), Geoffroy’s (Myotis emarginatus), Natterer’s (Myotis natteri) and Daubenton’s (Myotis daubentonii) bats.

Take some time and read the text loud to your children. They will be amazed! And what’s more important – you will be able to answer the question “What do bats have in common with the dolphins or the polar bear or Count Dracula….”

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