Stanišovská jaskyňa

Malá Stanišovská jaskyňa


Useful Information

Location: Jánska dolina, Liptovský Ján, Slovensko
From the ticket office 300 m walk, 30 m ascend, to the cave entrance.
(N 49° 00` 29", E 19° 40` 27")
Open: All year daily 10-16.
Tours every hour on the hour.
[2020]
Fee: Adults EUR 6, Children (6-15) EUR 3.50, Children (0-5) free, Seniors EUR 3.50, Disabled EUR 3.50.
[2020]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: headlamp provided
Dimension: L=871 m, VR=28 m, A=761 m asl., T=7 °C.
Guided tours: L=410 m, D=60 min.
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography: M. Lalkovič (2010): Z histórie Stanišovskej jaskyne, In Slovenský Kras roč. 48 (2010), Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovenské múzeum ochrany prírody a jaskyniarstva, 2010, pp 105–138, ISBN 80-88924-14-6.
Address: Stanišovská jaskyňa, Jánska dolina 185, Liptovský Ján, Tel: +421-907-703-444, Tel: +421-904-333-613, Tel: +421-948-013-143, Tel: +421-908-640-061. 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

1720 first explored and surveyed by J. Bucholtz jr.
1723 first description of the cave by Matej Bel.
1922-1950 various speleologic explorations by local cavers.
1960s Nova Stanišovská Cave discovered.
1970s Veľkej Stanišovská jaskyňa closed after severe vandalism.
1994 opened to the public.
2009 cave tour enhanced.

Description

The Stanišovská jaskyňa is the newest show cave of the country. Located in the Jánska dolina (Jan valley) 39 m above the Štiavnica Brook on the northwestern slope of Smrekovica in the Low Tatras National Park. It is known and visited for a very long time, the first survey is from 1720 and the first description from 1722. It is a higher level of the cave system which was formed when the valley floor was about 40 m higher and the cave was still filled with water. The dissolution of limestone by groundwater started the formation of cave passages and later the cave river drained to the valley and formed erosional forms further enlarging the passages. Today the cave has become dry and drainage happens 40 m below in the next level. After the water was gone the dripping water created various speleothems in the cave. The Nova Stanišovská jaskyňa (New Stanišovská Cave) on the opposite side of the valley is 2,334 m long and accessible only to cavers. It was once part of the same cave system.

Nearby Malá Stanišovská jaskyňa the most important wintering place for bats in the Jánska Valley. Both caves are home to seven species of bats, the most common is the Greater Mouse-Eared Bat (Myotis myotis). The caves also contain troglobiont isopods like Mesoniscus graniger. The sprintails Pseudosinella paclti and Arrhopalites pygmaeus were discovered, also the centipede Allorhiscosoma sphinx. Palaeontological remains include Cave Bear (Ursus spelaeus) bones and others. Archaeological remain are mostly from the Middle Ages. Since this time numerous visitors left their names on the walls.

The road ends at a parking lot. From here it is a 50 m walk to the ticket office, a small hut which is also home of the caving club. After getting headlamps from the guide, the group ascends on a narrow trail through the forest. The first limestone cliff has and entrance at the foot which is gated, the cave system behind is some 3.5 km long and not open to the public. The next stop, about 30 m above the ticket office, is the double entrance to the cave, both entrances gated with iron bars. The tour follows the main passage which is quite spacious, sometimes there is a side branch or lower passage and so the trail branches. So after the end of the passage is reached, the tour return on the same path or on the side branches. The cave has some artworks inside like a huge spider and a Mongolian altar, which are intended for children groups or have a funny story which is told by the guide. And at the end of the tour you can get a shot of local liquor for free, which is also on sale at the ticket office. The tour is quite enjoyable but good walking shoes and surefootedness are essential.

While the cave was well known it was never a show cave. It was opened as a show cave by the local caving club, which created trails and guides visitors. But they did not install a light system, and while the cave is a real show cave it is visited with headlamps which are provided. Comfortable walking shoes and a jacket are recommended though. It is one of the view show caves in Slovakia which are not owned and operated by the government (SSJ).