Kanjonu Zamne

Useful Information

Location:	Plavna. From Plavna on Highway 33 east 900 m, turn left on single lane gravel road to farm. 800 m hike. Signposted. (44.3012300, 22.2791135)
Open:	no restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Gorge Natural Bridge Karst Cave Ponor Karst Spring
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	L=150 m. South Portal: W=10 m, H=18 m. North Portal: W=14 m, H=10 m.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Turistička organizacija opštine Negotin (TOON), ul. Kraljevića Marka 6, 19300 Negotin, Tel: +381-19-547-555. E-mail:
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

1895	area explored for the first time by geographer Jovan Cvijić.
20-JUN-1957	declared a protected Natural Monument by the Socialist Republic Serbia.
2020	status replaced by the decree of the Serbian government on the proclamation of the natural monument “Tunelska pećina Prerast u kanjonu Zamne”, which placed the tunnel cave and its surroundings under protection.

Description

This site is listed as a karst feature, but actually it is a gorge with numerous different karst features, which is a Natural Monument with the name СП Тунелска пећина Прераст у кањону Замне or SP Tunelska pećina Prerast u kanjonu Zamne (Tunnel Cave Arch in Zamna Canyon). All the features are actually part of the Zamna Gorge, so we listed it with this name. кањону Замне or Kanjonu Zamne (Zamna Gorge) is the gorge of the Zamne river, obviously. Тунелска пећина Прераст or Tunelska pećina Prerast (Tunnel Cave Natural Bridge) is the main feature, or let's say the most spectacular feature. It is named a natural bridge, and is also known as Рајска прераст/Rajska prerast (Paradise Natural Bridge). And actually it is not really a natural bridge, it is the entrance of Tunelska pećina which is separated from the rest of the cave passage by a large karstfenster. Thus is looks like a natural bridge.

But to get a better understanding, we start at the beginning. Zamna river is a 41 km long river in eastern Serbia, a right tributary of the Danube. The valley is known for its caves, natural bridges and gorges, the most spectacular part is the Kanjonu Zamne, the gorge of the Zamne river. This canyon actually has two parts, the upper and the lower part, which are separated by a mountain ridge. The river Zamna crosses this mountain ridge through a huge cave passage. Flowing from the south to the north, it enters the cave, which is generally called a river sink or ponor. However, the passage is huge and the river just flows on into the cave passage. As already mentioned, there is a huge opening in the ceiling which actually separates the first section of the cave from the rest, and so this part is called Rajska prerast (Paradise Natural Bridge). At the northern end of the cave there is also an opening which allows light into the cave, and the result of the huge dimensions and the two openings is, that the cave is illuminated by daylight for its full length of 700 m. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend bringing lamps anyway. However, if you forgot them, you are nevertheless able to cross the cave.

The gorge downstream is also worth a visit, although it is not as spectacular. There are numerous small caves, some are listed as tourist sites, but actually they are wild caves, and you need at least good shoes and a lamp to have a look. The closest is called Dudiceva pecina, further downstream is Cvetkova cave.

Zamna is a magical location, a place where fairies gather to seduce passers-by with their magical dance. The local population uses the water under the arch for magical rituals. The water flowing over the stones is believed to be magically clear. Also, there are numerous stories about the hidden treasure of the bandits, so the gorge was dug in several places. The inhabitants also believed that the Spirit of Water lived in the river. Heaven's Arch is specifically named so, because the locals believe that it is the place where souls directly enter heaven and the place where the forces of good and multidimensional demons clash.

There are actually three different ways to reach the cave. Our description above is the most common access. There is a hiking trail on the plateau, and at the end it's necessary to walk down into the gorge, which is a height difference of 100 m. This is the access from the southwest. Its also possible to access from the east, there is a farm right at the border of the National Monument with the address Кнез Михајлова 73. The trail to the cave entrance is only 250 m long, the height difference is the same, but it's tricky to find this farm and the access is a rather poor single-lane gravel road. The longest access is along Zamna river from the bridge where Highway 33 crosses the river. It is quite interesting, there is a watermill, and a nice gorge, on the other hand, it is about 1.2 km long and the trail is poor, most of the time it's necessary to walk along and in the river. We strongly recommend gum boots for this alternative.