Postojna is a
small town in the western part of Slovenia, ideally located
at the junction between Croatia, Italy, Hungary and Austria. Although it looks like a common small village, every year about one
million tourists come here. The main reason is a cave, which is
one of the most visited caves in the world.
The magical part of the karst, hidden between the Alps and the Adriatic, fascinates anyone who enters. It contains
twenty kilometers of cave formations and is
three and a half million years old. It provides
habitat for 175 different species of animals, and the most well-known is the
Grottenolm - an
endemic lurch species found only here.
The path leads you first into the subterranean wealth of the Postojna Cave, with its
majestic halls, various stalactites and mysterious animals. It was
discovered completely by accident in 1818, and in
1819 it was opened for tourists. In
1872 Postojna Cave launched the
first railway in a stalactite cave in the world, and even today you will have a comfortable
3.7km ride by train, and then continue for 1.5km on foot (the tour lasts a full hour and a half). The cave was already supplied with
electricity in 1884 (London only two years later) and all that because it enchanted the Austro-Hungarian King Franz Joseph so much- as well as, the now 39 million visitors, from all over the world.
You can quickly see why the Postojna Cave is an absolute top sight. Huge
stalactites hang from the ceiling, gigantic stalagmites grow from the ground (some over 16 meters high). An absolute highlight are the
different-colored stalactites, and especially the white specimens (which are not unjustly called "brilliants") are breathtaking, as they illuminate the entire hall by their rays. Another
highlight is the concert hall - a huge cave room with an underground lake and
fantastic acoustics (for up to 11,000 people!).
Just a few kilometers further on, in the firm embrace of a mighty rock, stands
Predjama Castle - a medieval wonder that has
stood the test of time for more than 800 years. Behind the largest caves castle in the world (listed in the Guinness Book of Records) is a network of secret passages, from which the
Knight Erasmus of Predjama went on his robberies, and it is one of the ten most fascinating castles in the world (so romantic that many couples choose it for their wedding vows.). The castle was the scene of numerous documentary and feature films and it also inspired George R. R. Martin - the author of the bestseller Game of Thrones.
Adrenalin-filled experiences, exciting legends and unforgettable adventures - discover all this, while vacationing in Istria or Kvarner, in
one of our villas.
As mentioned in the headline: a journey that will undoubtedly be remembered forever!
A little tip: the park is open every day, even on public holidays.
Ivana Stanic
16.01.2020
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
