Zlotske Pećine

Zlotske Caves - Lazareva Pecina - Лазарева пећина - Verknjica Pecina - Lazareva Cave - Verknjica Cave

Useful Information

Location:	In eastern Serbia close to the town of Zlot. 22 km from Bors and 240 km from Belgrade. (44.029339, 21.962424)
Open:	MAY to OCT daily 9-16. [2022]
Fee:	Adults RSD 300, Children (4-7) free. Groups (20+): Students RSD 250. [2022]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	Lazareva Cave: L=1,592 m, T=9-12 °C, H=100%, A=291 m asl. Verknjica Cave: L=9,818 m, VR=99 m, T=3-9 °C, H=100%, A=454 m asl.
Guided tours:	Lazareva Cave: D=40 min, L=694 m. Verknjica Cave: D=3 h, L=620 m.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:	Dr Radenko Lazaravic (1978): Zlotske pecina, 122pp 50 photos / surveys. ()
Address:	Reservation, Tel: +381-30-459-020, Tel: +381-30-459-021, Cell: +381-69-459-02-06. E-mail: Information: Tourist Office Bors, Tel: +381-30-24166, Fax: +381-30-25961. Motel "Zlotske pecine", 19215 Zlot, Phone: +381-30-71042.
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

1882	first exploration of Lazar's Cave by Felix Hoffman.
1889	speleological research of Lazar's Cave published by Jovan Cvijić.
1953	Lazar's Cave opened to the public.
1959	explored by D Dvetkovic, T Sava and B Markovic.
1960-62	explored by D Petrovitsch.
1965	explored by D Gavrilovic.
1976	explored by Radenko Lazaravic and the Speleological Group from Valjeva.
1976	Vernjikica opened to the public.

Description

In the case of Zlotske Caves the plural is earned by the fact that there are two different caves, connected by a footpath cut into the cliffs. They are called Lazareva pećina (Lazar's Cave, Lazarus Cave) and Vernjikica. Vernjikica cave is located on the left side of the Lazareva reka canyon, about 1.5 km upstream from Lazareva. Lazarev kanjon (Lazarus Canyon) is a sight of its own, with steep limestone cliffs, it was formed by the cave river from the lower level of Vernjikica cave. The eastern foothills of the Kučaj mountain are full of caves, around the village of Zlot 222 caves are registered in the cave registry.

Lazareva pećina (Lazar Cave) has two different levels, the upper level is toured. The lower level contains the underground Lazar River. The resurgence of the cave river is 7 m lower and in front of the cave entrance. The cave has a huge entrance portal with is gated with iron bars. If you are there outside open hours, you can actually have a look into the entrance chamber, the shelter where the archaeological remains were excavated. Remains from Copper Age through Late Bronze Age to Iron Age were found. Also, the cave was frequented by animals during the Pleistocene, numerous bones were found. The bones of a lion and a bear are on display in the cave.

A legend about Lazar's Cave tells that hajduks hid in it during the rule of the Turks. When the Turks found out they blocked the entrance to the cave. But their blockade was easily destroyed by the cave river.

The Girl's Room was the place where the hajduks hid their daughters so that the Turks would not take them to the harem. The access to the chamber is a gradually narrowing passage, and at the end only one person at a time can pass through. The Turk which first protruded the head was greeted by a machete.

The cave is also famous for numerous bats. 24 of the 27 species of bats in Europe where found in Bat Hall. This hall is not part of the cave tour to protect the bats.

Intensive research of the underwater part of the cave by cave divers during the last years has extended the size of the cave greatly. Currently, it is the longest cave of Serbia and 9,818 m long [2022]. It is not fully surveyed due to the difficulties, the estimated length with the not surveyed but explored parts is more than 10 km.

The tour through Vernjikica Cave shows eleven chambers: Prijmna, Kaskadna, Vilingrad, Koloseum, Mramorje, Gotska Katedrala, Dvorana Oruzja, Venerin Ham and Siparska Dvorana. Vilingrad is the largest chamber by surface, 2,950 m², and got its name from the fantastic stalagmite shapes. The guides point out men, animals, flowers and a complete cave family from grandmother to a dog. Koloseum is the largest chamber in Serbia, 60 m long, 55 m wide, with a surface of 2,575 m². The ceiling is up to 51 m high and the volume is aid to be 90,000 m³. It was named colosseum because of its circular shape and ruined columns. The biggest stalagmites in this chamber are Godzila (10 m high), Toranj (9.5 m high), Vecin Sesir (9.5 m high), Minare (10.5 m high), Kriva Crvena Kula (18 m high, 8 m in diameter), and Vavilonska Kula (22 m high, 11 m in diameter).

The Gotska Katedral (Gothic Cathedral) contains a lace of flowstone. Venerin Ham (Temple of Venus) has formations of pure white calcite. The centrepiece is Pecinska Verna (Cave Venus), a 3 m high stalagmite, in the shape of a woman with raised hair. It resembles the famous Venus painting by Sandro Botticelli.