Baradla-barlang Jósvafői lejárat

Useful Information

photography — Baradla-barlang Jósvafői lejárat, Slovakia. Public Domain.

Location:	Tengerszem oldal 1, Jósvafő 3758. At the border to the Slovak Republic, NE part of Hungary. In the Aggtelek National Park, west of Jósvafői, from Aggtelek follow road to Jósvafő, turn left at sign. Best access from Budapest: Budapest-Eger-Kazincbarcika-Aggtelek (220 km). (48.4845163, 20.5393967)
Open:	All year daily 11, 15. [2025]
Fee:	Jósvafői rövidtúra: Adults HUF 3,800, Children (3-6) HUF 1,000, Children (0-2) free, Students (-26) HUF 3,040, Seniors (65+) HUF 3,040, Hungarian Disabled HUF 200. Groups (20+): Adults HUF 3,400, Students HUF 2,740. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=25,120 m, VR=112 m, A=261 m asl, T=10 °C.
Guided tours:	L=1,400 m, D=60 min, St=146.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Aggteleki Nemzeti Park (Aggtelek National Park), H-3758 Jósvafõ, Tengerszem oldal 1, Tel: +36-48-503-003. informacio@anpi.hu
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

1840	mill built at the Jósva river.
1917	hydroelectric power generator installed which provides electricity for the village Jósvafő.
1935	electric light installed in all show caves.
1995	inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Description

Baradla-barlang Jósvafői lejárat (Jósvafő Branch of Baradla Cave) is located near the small village Jósvafő, after which it was named. There is a resurgence of the cave river which is the source of the Jósva river. In 1840 the Klein family built a mill at the river, later, in 1917, a hydroelectric power generator was installed which provided electricity for the village. The river was dammed in 1942 and so the Tengerszem lake created. The spring is quite impressive, producing about 7,000 to 8,000 l/s. Although partly blocked by the water, the resurgence is a natural entrance to the cave, and there is a possible though difficult access to the cave syste, which is now gated.

During the continuous exploration of the cave system, a survey revealed that the upper and dry level of the cave system is rather close to the suface in the upper part of the valley. The cave entrance with access road and car park was built in 19?? and the cave finally opened to the public as a show cave in 1932. It was necessary to build a ?? m long artificial entrance tunnel. As a result, the cave is entered and left through this tunnel, which is located inside the entrance building. Inside the trail forms a round trip, leading in one passage and returning through another. The total length is 1,400 m and there are 146 steps, which makes the tour rather easy.

In the entrance section, the passage is almost devoid of speleothems. The explanation is simple: the chemical composition of the limestone is not suitable for the formation of dripstone. On the other hand, this allows an unhindered view on folds, fault zones and stratification. The formations start about halfway down the passage, with various individual and quite spectacular stalactite groups. Of course, these have been given imaginative names over the years, such as Crocodile Mouth, the Butcher’s Shop and the Toe Coast Castle.

At the far end of the loop is the largest chamber of the show cave called Óriások terméig (Giant’s Hall), which has a rather strange setup. On the left side is a slope of debris, mostly rather huge blocks of limestone. It is full of stalagmites, some of them collapsed when the debris started to roll down the slope. Some stalagmites are almost lying horizontally, others are slanted. On top growth continued, and so there are younger stalagmites which are vertical, growing on top. The trail was built on the right side of the chamber, in different levels, so it is possible to see the stalagmite formations on the other side from different angles. Definitely a spectacular feature. The chamber is also noted for its acoustics, and while the trails are not large enough to allow concerts, there are at least speakers placed in the hall, and there is a song played during the tour.