The Škocjan Caves

Description:

The Škocjan Caves remain the only monument in Slovenia and the Classical Karst region on UNESCO’s list of natural and cultural world heritage sites. Thus, they hold a significant position among the world’s natural monuments. In addition to our caves, only those in the border area between Hungary and Slovakia (Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst), Mammoth Caves and Carlsbad Caverns in the USA have received the same honour. Other caves have been entered as cultural monuments (for example Altamira in Spain and the prehistoric sites and cave paintings of the Vézere Valley in France).

The entry itself is important from different perspectives: most significantly, that the Škocjan Caves have gained worldwide recognition and that the state has committed itself to doing everything in its power to conserve and protect this outstanding natural site.

What the park offers you


In addition to tours of the Škocjan Caves, which are open to visitors year-round, the park offers visitors various other possibilities for learning about the Kras region and its features.


• Škocjan Museum exhibitions. A tour of the village itself includes an ethnography exhibition in the J’Kopin Barn, an illustrated history of the exploration of the Škocjan Caves in the Jurjevo Barn, and biology, geology, and archeology exhibitions in the Natural Science Center.


• Visit the caves in winter, early spring, and late fall when tour groups are smaller than during the summer high season.


• Škocjan Education Trail, a moderately demanding hour and a half walk around the Velika dolina and Mala dolina collapse dolines in the heart of the park. Informative signboards present the basic features of karst phenomena and numerous interesting descriptions of karst plants and animals as well as the rich cultural and historical heritage of the area.

Škocjan Caves Guided Tours
 
General information

It is possible to visit the Škocjan Caves every day in the year.
Visits are guided.
The tour lasts around one-and-a-half hours.
The tour is approximately three kilometres long.
The trail’s lowest point is 144 metres beneath the surface.
The cave temperature is around 12 °C.
Sport footwear and a warm sweater are recommended.