The Yagodina Cave
Presentation
Work time
How do we get to
Service
Practical information
Information Center
Contacts
The Yagodina Cave is located in the Buynovo Gorge near the Rhodope village of Yagodina. It is one of the most famous and most-visited caves in Bulgaria. Its galleries extend to a length of 8,501 meters, which makes it the 4th longest cave in Bulgaria and the longest in the Rhodopes. The temperature in the cave is between 6 and 8 degrees all year round, and it has a humidity of more than 90% (as do most caves).
The Yagodina Cave is a multi-level complex, primarily marble. The lowest level has been developed, but the cave has another two connected levels. The tourist route enters and exits through two artificial openings. The cave’s natural mouth is a kilometer farther down the Buynovo River, where artifacts from the Neolithic Age (both the Stone Age and the Bronze Age) have been discovered. Among these finds are earthenware plates, work implements, and an earthenware oven. Studies have shown that the master potters lived in this region collected clay from the cave. After the cave mouth was excavated and restored, it was turned into a museum exhibit.
The gallery where visitors begin their itinerary is known as New Year’s Hall. Here spelunkers and their guests from neighboring regions gather to welcome the new year, and they also put up a real Christmas tree in the hall. The next hall is The Wedding Chapel, where couples can exchange their matrimonial vows. It is fitted with an altar and attractive wall decorations to lend the hall a more ceremonial appearance.
The itinerary continues for another kilometer, allowing visitors to observe almost every type of cave formation, but most impressive are the many cave pearls. They are formed as real pearls are, beginning with grains of sand that fall into the water and then are coated with layer after layer of calcite, year after year, which is how they become round.
Besides the standard tourist route, Rhodope Tourist Association guides offer excursions through the wild, undeveloped galleries at The Yagodina Cave. These parts of the cave, which can only be entered with the help of special equipment, offer unusual and entrancing vistas that remain hidden to most visitors. Excursions to the unlit parts of the Yagodina Cave are extreme tourism that requires strength and stamina, but the beautiful views make the effort well worthwhile.
Presentation
The Yagodina Cave is located in the Buynovo Gorge near the Rhodope village of Yagodina. It is one of the most famous and most-visited caves in Bulgaria. Its galleries extend to a length of 8,501 meters, which makes it the 4th longest cave in Bulgaria and the longest in the Rhodopes. The temperature in the cave is between 6 and 8 degrees all year round, and it has a humidity of more than 90% (as do most caves).
The Yagodina Cave is a multi-level complex, primarily marble. The lowest level has been developed, but the cave has another two connected levels. The tourist route enters and exits through two artificial openings. The cave’s natural mouth is a kilometer farther down the Buynovo River, where artifacts from the Neolithic Age (both the Stone Age and the Bronze Age) have been discovered. Among these finds are earthenware plates, work implements, and an earthenware oven. Studies have shown that the master potters lived in this region collected clay from the cave. After the cave mouth was excavated and restored, it was turned into a museum exhibit.
The gallery where visitors begin their itinerary is known as New Year’s Hall. Here spelunkers and their guests from neighboring regions gather to welcome the new year, and they also put up a real Christmas tree in the hall. The next hall is The Wedding Chapel, where couples can exchange their matrimonial vows. It is fitted with an altar and attractive wall decorations to lend the hall a more ceremonial appearance.
The itinerary continues for another kilometer, allowing visitors to observe almost every type of cave formation, but most impressive are the many cave pearls. They are formed as real pearls are, beginning with grains of sand that fall into the water and then are coated with layer after layer of calcite, year after year, which is how they become round.
Besides the standard tourist route, Rhodope Tourist Association guides offer excursions through the wild, undeveloped galleries at The Yagodina Cave. These parts of the cave, which can only be entered with the help of special equipment, offer unusual and entrancing vistas that remain hidden to most visitors. Excursions to the unlit parts of the Yagodina Cave are extreme tourism that requires strength and stamina, but the beautiful views make the effort well worthwhile.
Work time
Еvery day
Winter season: 01.11 – 30.04: 10:00 – 16:15
Summer season: 01.05 – 31.10: 9:00 – 16:15
How to get there
To reach the cave, take the main road from Devin to Dospat and turn left at The Teshel Reservoir dam. There are many signs giving directions along the way, and cars can drive to the cave entrance. But drivers should take particular care over the last kilomoters approaching the cave, since the road through the Buynovo Gorge at that point is a single lane and very narrow, with traffic in both directions.
Servising
Guides take visitors through the cave and offer lectures in Bulgarian only.
Practical information
Visitors should wear warm clothing and appropriate footwear, and are advised not to touch the cave formations or leave the trail. Please do not disturb the bats that live in the cave. Photography is not allowed in the cave, and consumption of alcoholic beverages is also prohibited while visiting the cave.
Tourist information center
Tourist information center – Smolyan
Every day: 8:30 – 17:00
Smolyan, 5 Bulgaria Blvd
Tel .: +359 301 625 30
E-mail: toursmolyan@abv.bg
Contacts
The Rhodope Tourist Association
Tel:
+359 889 903 642
(this number is also the number for the Devil’s Throat Cave)
+359 888 519 981
(for extreme tourism excursions to the cave)
Website: www.yagodinska-peshtera.com
Virtual map
Photos
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