Špilja Veternica

Veternica Cave - Wind Cave


Useful Information

Location: Located less than 9 km from the city center of Zagreb. Medvednica National Park near Dubravica. North of Zagreb, Gornji Stenjevac. 30 min walk uphill.
Follow Aleja Bolgne to the west, in Gornji Stenjevec turn right after the gas station on the Dubravica. Follow the road to the end, then walk to the Planinarski dom "Glaica", a hiking hut. From here 5 min to the cave. Signposted.
Open: APR to OCT Sat, Sun, Hol 10-16.
[2011]
Fee: Adults HRK 25, Children HRK 15, Students HRK 20, Seniors HRK 20, Family (2+*) HRK 50.
Groups (20+): Adults HRK 25, Children HRK 12, Students HRK 18, Seniors HRK 18.
[2011]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst Cave
Light: LightIncandescent
Dimension: L=7,128 m, VR=200 m, A=320 m asl, T=10 °C.
Guided tours: L=380 m, D=60 min. V=3,000/a [2005]
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Veternica, Komisija za speleologiju, Kozarceva 22, 10000 Zagreb.
Javna ustanova Park prirode Medvednica (National Park Medvednica), Lugarnica Bliznec, Bliznec bb, 10000 Zagreb, Tel: +385-01-4580-699. E-mail: contact
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

1899 first mentioned by Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger.
1934 first explorations by Josip Poljak.
1950 start of exploration by the caving clubs Željezničar and Velebit.
1951 first development odf the caves with paths, opened to the public.
1979 protected by law as a geomorphological natural monument.
1980 provisional electric light.
1984-1985 electric light renovated.

Description

Veternica is well known for its paleontological remains, e.g. Biologycave bear (Ursus spelaeus) and Neanderthal man. The finds from the entrance hall of the cave are on display in the Croatian Nature Museum in Zagreb. It was used by Biologycave bears (Ursus spelaeus) which left several spots with bear polish.

The cave has very little speleothems, but many other interesting features. There are numerous current marks and dolly tubs, remains from the active phase of the cave. The walls of the cave shows numerous fossils, layed open by the force of the water.

A large chamber, about 70 m from the entrance is used regularly for concerts. This is also called the Zagreb underground.

The entrance of the cave was originally filled with sediments almost to the ceiling. The entrance was opened when the cave was developed during the 1950s. A first section of the passage is visited on a path dug into the soft cave sediments in the middle of the passage, so the path is almost a metre below the cave floor to the left and right. Nevertheless the cave ceiling is sometimes rather low and visitors are provided with helmets.

The first part of the passage is below the entrance. It shows vadose forms on the wall, which originate from a time when this passage was completely filled with water and formed a sort of siphon. Old watermarks at the end of the syphon were dated to be about 250.000 years old, a huge stalagmite in the lower passage, which obviously could not have formed under water, was dated 240.000 years old. As a result we know the cave went dry at this time.

The cave is located on Mt. Medvednica in the Park prirode Medvednica (Medvednica National Park) north of Zagreb.

Veternica cave is located in the south western part of the Medvednica Nature Park, nine kilometers west of Zagreb town centre, in the Dubravica River valley, between the uplands of Glavica and Jaruga.

It was named after the air current that appears at the entrance as a result of the temperature differences of the air. In summer cold air comes out of the entrance and in winter the circulation is reversed. The name Veternica is from Veter = wind.

The easiest way to the cave goes downhill from the Glavica mountain hut, along mountain track No 3. The walk takes 15 minutes.


Text by Tony Oldham (2004). With kind permission.