Мраморная пещера

Mramornaja Pestera - Marble Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Mramorne. Chatyr Dagh Plateau, Crimea. Road to Zarechnoe village, turn right 12 km up to the mountains to Perevalnoe village. Turn left at sign "Red Cave", 6 km to the cave. (44.7972386, 34.2794518)
Open:	All year daily 10-18. [2024]
Fee:	Fairy Tale Gallery: Adults RUR 500, Children (7-14) RUR 250, Children (0-6) free, Disabled free, Veterans free. Fairy Tale + Pearl Lakes: Adults RUR 700, Children (7-14) RUR 350, Children (0-6) free, Disabled free, Veterans free. Fairy Tale + Tiger's Passage: Adults RUR 700, Children (7-14) RUR 350, Children (0-6) free, Disabled free, Veterans free. Whole Cave: Adults RUR 900, Children (7-14) RUR 450, Children (0-6) free, Disabled free, Veterans free. Melodies of Chatyr-Dag: Adults RUR 1,500, Children (7-14) RUR 750, Children (0-6) free, Disabled free, Veterans free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	Fairy Tale Gallery: L=200 m, D=30 min. Fairy Tale + Pearl Lakes: L=450 m, D=50 min. Fairy Tale + Tiger's Passage: L=500 m, D=60 min. Whole Cave: L=800 m, D=80 min. Melodies of Chatyr-Dag: self-guided, D=2 h. V=200,000/a [2000]
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Mramornaja (Marble Cave), c/o Onyx-Tour, UI. Georgy Morozova 13, Simferopol 33300, Crimea, Tel: +7-978-969-60-60, Tel: +7-3652-25-63-48, Tel: +7-3652-24-98-14. E-mail: 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

1987	cave discovered by Simferopol speleologists.
2006	opened as a show cave.
2006	lower level of the cave developed and added to the show cave.

Description

Мармурова, in Russian Мраморная (Mramornaja, Marble Cave) is probably the best known cave of Russia and a must on every visit to Crimea. It is located on the Chatyr Dagh Plateau, a karst plateau at the foot of the Chatyr Dagh mountain. The whole area is full of caves and dolines. There is another show cave nearby, named Emine-Bair-Khosar, and the surface features are easily visible. Walks across the plain are also possible, there are numerous trails. It is not far from the southern coast of Crimea, but it is a little difficult to get there. Tour organizers offer day trips to this cave and other destinations, generally connected with karst.

The cave was named Marble Cave, because the limestone looks marble-like. Actually it is not marble, it is normal limestone, no metamorphic rock, but it has physical properties which are similar to marble. The Обвальный зал (Collapse Hall) aka Зал перестройки (Perestroika Hall) is the largest chamber in the Crimean caves. It is 250 m long and 28 m high. It was formed by the collapse of the floor between the second and third floor, the debris covers the floor. At the far end a smaller chamber follows, named Дворцовый зал (Palace Hall), which is followed by a final hall with a thick layer of clay follows, which was named глиняный зал (Clay Hall).

Returning through Perestroika Hall and keeping left is the Тигровый ход (Tiger's Passage). It was discovered a year after the cave was opened to the public. This passage was hidden under a layer of calcite and is noted for numerous speleothems.

Another section of the show cave is the lower floor, which was developed in 2006 and added to the show cave. It is a passage which connects five beautiful chambers. They are named Розовый зал (Pink Hall), Зал надежд (Hall of Hope), Театральный (Theatre), Зал Вернадского (Hall of Vernadsky), Люстровый зал (Chandelier Hall), and Шоколадный зал (Chocolate Hall). This passage is visited self-guided and atmospheric classical, electronic and jazz music is played. That's the reason why this section is called Мелодии Чатыр-Дага (Melodies of Chatyr-Dagh).

There are actually four different tours. The Fairy Tale Gallery is the entrance section which reached through a 10 m long artificial entrance tunnel. It is a standalone tour as well as part of any other tour. Fairy Tales and Collapse Hall includes the main chamber, and Fairy Tales and Tiger's Passage includes the new parts. And finally, there is a long tour which includes all three parts. And of course, there is the self-guided visit of Melodies of Chatyr-Dagh with music.