Yagodina Cave

Yagodina lies in the Buynovo gorge in the western Rhodopes and runs to over ten kilometres of galleries on four levels, which makes it one of the longest caves in Bulgaria, with about eleven hundred metres of the third level open to visitors. The route passes through chambers of dense formations, with stalactites, columns, draperies, flowstone and a good number of cave pearls, which are uncommon and form where dripping water rolls small concretions in shallow basins. There is a chamber used for weddings. The Buynovo gorge outside is the longest in Bulgaria, narrow enough in places to be called the Wolf's Leap, with a road running through it and rock walls closing overhead.

What you actually see

• Cave pearls - concretions formed in shallow drip basins.
• Four levels of galleries - over ten kilometres in total.
• Dense formations on the visitor route - columns, draperies and flowstone.
• The Buynovo gorge outside - the longest in Bulgaria, road running through it.

When to go

April to October for the road and the gorge; the cave temperature is constant year round. Two hours. Tours are timed. A jacket is needed underground. The gorge road is narrow.

Honest expectations

Tours are timed and in Bulgarian unless arranged. Only one of four levels is open. There are many steps and the floor is wet. The road through the gorge is single track in places with rockfall.

Nearby

Devin is north; Trigrad gorge and the Devil's Throat lie east.