Dobšinská ice cave (Dobšinská ľadová jaskyňa)
Dobšinská Ice Cave is one of the largest ice caves in Europe, located in the Slovak Paradise Mountains, in eastern Slovakia. The scale of this cave is impressive! The thickness of ice in some halls reaches 26.5 meters, and the total area of glaciation is more than 9.7 thousand m². Scientists believe that the volume of ice in the Dobrzynska Ice Cave exceeds 110 thousand m³.
Video: Dobshinsky Ice Cave
Highlights
Ice-covered underground labyrinths stretch for 1,483 meters. In summer, the temperature here varies from -3.8 to +0.5 °C. It is noteworthy that such monumental glaciation has been preserved for thousands of years at heights of about 950 meters. In 2000, this unique natural attraction of Slovakia was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
.The Dobrzynska Ice Cave was discovered by the mountain engineer Jenő Ruffini and his friends Gustav Lang, Nandor Feher and Endre Mega. In 1870, they became interested in a narrow crevice from which cold air was blowing, and when they were inside, they saw a long underground cavity filled with ice.
.
For tourists, the unique natural dungeon was made accessible in 1871, shortly after its discovery. In 1887, electricity was installed here, and underground travel became safer and more convenient. Interestingly, in the middle of the last century, the Czechoslovak ice hockey team and Czech figure skater Karol Divin trained in the Dobrzynska Ice Cave.
.
Route through the cave
Nowadays, there is a 515-meter tourist route along the Dobrzynska Ice Cave, which is designed for a half-hour excursion. Even in the summer heat inside the cave is cold, so visitors are asked to take care of warm clothes in advance and go out on the route in sturdy sports shoes.
.
Tourists pass through the Great and Small Halls, the Rufini Corridor and the Curled Dome. Other areas of the cave – White Hall, Dry Dome, and Drop Cellar – are unglaciated.
.
Tourist Information
The entrance to the cave is open from June to September – Tuesday through Sunday from 9.00 to 16.00. The ticket for adults costs 8 €, for students and pensioners – 7 €, for children from 5 to 15 years old – 4 €. For the opportunity to take photos and videos with a tripod you have to pay 10 €. Children are allowed on the route only if accompanied by an adult.
.Smoking and littering are prohibited inside the Dobrzynska Ice Cave. Visitors are also asked not to touch the electrical equipment and not to damage the ice deposits.
.
How to get there
The Dobrzynska Ice Cave is 18 kilometers away from the town of Dobrzyn. The entrance to the underground cavity is located on the northern slope of Duča Hill, 1 km from the bus stop “Dobšinská Ľadová Jaskyňa”. From the highway to the entrance you need to gain 130 m of altitude. The climb up here takes about 25 minutes.
.
