Saeva Dupka Cave: Bulgaria’s Underground Palace of Natural Wonders
You can find the spectacular Saeva Dupka Cave near the village of Brestnica in the Lovech district, just 100 km east of Sofia. Two brothers, Seju and Saju, originally discovered the entrance. Because of this accidental find, locals later named the cave in their honour.
The History of Exploration
Professor Georgi Zlatarov conducted the first scientific research here in 1883. Shortly after, Herman and Karel Shkorpil published the first official data about the cave at the end of the 19th century. This information appeared in their 1898 monograph on Bulgaria's karst waters.
The Shkorpil brothers belonged to a group of Czech scholars who moved to Bulgaria after its liberation from Ottoman rule in 1878. Consequently, these scholars became the very first to document numerous archaeological sites across the country, effectively founding modern Bulgarian archaeology.
Exploring Saeva Dupka: A Journey Through One of Bulgaria’s Most Beautiful Caves
For the Science Enthusiasts: If you want a deep scientific study of the area, check out Dynamic Tectonics and Karst by Stefan Shanov and Konstantin Kostov (published by Springer).
The government designated the cave as an official Natural Phenomenon in 1963 and installed electricity in 1967. However, the site closed to visitors between 1990 and 2004. Fortunately, the local community stepped in. Thanks to their hard work and goodwill, they preserved this natural wonder and successfully reopened it to the public.
Inside the Cave: Facts & Formations
The cave sits at an altitude of 510 meters. Inside, you will find one large main gallery divided into five massive chambers.
| Feature | Details |
| Total Length | 210 meters |
| Vertical Drop (Denivelation) | 40 meters |
| Humidity | 90% constant |
| Temperature | 9°C to 11°C year-round |
Nature formed this cave during the Berriasian Age, roughly 145 to 139.8 million years ago. Today, a standard tour takes about an hour. Local guides lead every group, and these experts are witty, knowledgeable, and always eager to reveal hidden secrets.
As you walk through, the rich diversity of rock formations tells a three-million-year-old story. Your imagination will run wild looking at fantastic stalactites, stalagmites, and massive columns - including one giant column with a three-meter diameter. Simply put, Saeva Dupka is amazing and the views are stunning.
The Secret Life of Bats
If you look up, you can see bats hanging from the ceiling. To help you learn more about them, the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation placed a comprehensive information board right at the cave's entrance.
Amazingly, eight different bat species with international conservation status live inside 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 nattereri)
- Daubenton’s (Myotis daubentonii)
Before you go, take some time to read the informational boards out loud to your children. They will love it! More importantly, you will finally be able to answer the ultimate question: “What do bats have in common with dolphins, polar bears, and Count Dracula?”
Saeva Dupka Cave is one of the most beautiful caves in Bulgaria