Špilja Lokvarka

Useful Information

Location:	2 km east of Lokve in the Gorski Kotar. 400 m west of the crossing of the roads Zagreb-Rijeka and Lokve-Lokve Railroad station.
Open:	15-JUN to SEP daily 9-17, tour every hour. [2010]
Fee:	Adults HRK 40, Children (4-18) HRK 25, Children (0-3) not allowed, Students HRK 25, Seniors HRK 25, Family (2+2) HRK 60. Groups (10+): Adults HRK 35, Children (4-18) HRK 20, Students HRK 20, Seniors HRK 20. [2011]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=1,179 m, VR=277 m, T=6.5-8 °C, A=780 m asl.
Guided tours:	L=900 m, VR=140 m, D=60 min. V=7,000/a [2005]
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Turistička agencija "Lokve", Andrea Gašparac-Zorc, Šetalište Golubinjak 50, 51316 Lokve, Tel: +385-51-831-27, Fax: +385-51-831-27, Cell: +385-91-507415. Turistička zajednica Lokve, Rudolfa Strohala 118, 51316 Lokve, Tel: +385-51-831-250, Fax: +385-51-831-250.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1912	discovered.
1935	electric light, opened to the public.
1961	declared a natural monument by the Zavod za zaštitu prirode (Department for Nature Protection), Zagreb.
1973-74	cave modernized.
2006	closed for renovation.
14-MAY-2009	reopened.

Description

The Špilja Lokvarka (Cave of Lokve) is located 2 km east of the small village it is named after. The cave is mentioned for its abundance of speleothems and its size. The cave is listed among both the longest and deepest caves of Croatia. The tour includes three huge chambers and descends 140 m, which makes it a little strenuous.

The cave was discovered in 1911 during quarry works. It was first explored by Josip Poljak and immediately opened to the public, with wooden stairs and no electric light. The development with concrete paths and electric light was made in 1935, renovations took place in 1961 and 1974. The cave was closed for three years for renovation and reopened in 2009.

Lokva is a small village located at an artificial lake, which made the place a popular tourist destination and the cave also well visited.