Peştera Dambovicioara

Dambovicioara Cave


Useful Information

Location: 1 km north of Dambovicioara village. Just off the E 574. Sourthern part of Piatra Craiului Mountains.
(45.444789, 25.222554)
Open:  
Fee: free. Guides: Lei 10.000. [2002]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: L=250 m, T=10-12 °C.
Guided tours:  
Photography:  
Accessibility:  
Bibliography: Choppers (2003): Romania Whitsun 2002, Cerberus Spaeological Socirty Journal Vol 26 (4) 25-32
Address:  
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History

1579 cave first mentioned in a report on the cave during the Mihnea Turcitul ruling.
1767 scientific work about the cave written by J. Fridvalsky: Mineralogia Magni Principatus Transilvaniae.

Description

Peştera Dambovicioara (Dambovicioara Cave, Dambovicioarei) is a rather small cave in an impressive karst area. The surrounding mountains of Fagras, Piatra Craiului and Leaota are the source of rivers, which eroded deep valleys and gorges into the limestone. This is the biggest gorge complex of Romania. About one kilometre north of Dambovicioara village, at the road through the Dambovicioara Gorge, lies the most famous of many small and medium sized caves, Dambovicioara Cave.

Dambovicioara Cave is only 250 m long, a single passage which descends continually, a typical river passage. The cave is not very well developed, there is only a footpath, but it is very easy to visit anyway. The ceiling is always higher than two meters, so it is an easy walk. It is possible to visit it in a self guided way, but a guide may be hired. The cave is lighted by electric light, which means a single string of bulbs. But there is some work in progress, a new building is being built on the edge of the gorge at the entrance to the cave. It appears it is intended as a ticket office or gift shop.

The cave is not gated and it was open like this for visitors over centuries. This means there are no virgin speleothems left, what was there once, is now broken or stolen. The cave contained some remains of cave bear (Ursus spelaeus).