Bears' Cave

Peștera Urșilor was found in 1975 when marble quarrying broke into a sealed chamber, and what the first people through the gap found was a floor covered in bones. More than a hundred and forty cave bear skeletons have been identified, animals of a species extinct for tens of thousands of years, which had entered through a passage that later closed and could not get out. Because the cave was sealed for so long, the formations inside were untouched, and the guided route passes stalactites, columns and flowstone in unusually good condition, along with a bear skeleton left in place where it lay. The visit runs on a concrete walkway with lighting and takes under an hour on the standard route, with a longer scientific gallery open only to specialists. The village outside has grown a row of stalls and small guesthouses, and there is a small museum with the finds.

History

The cave stayed sealed until 17 September 1975, when blasting in a marble quarry opened its entrance; the miner Traian Curta went down first, and the amateur cavers of Speodava explored it on 20 September. After five years of work planned with the Emil Racoviță Institute of Speleology it opened to visitors on 14 July 1980, and it takes its name from the 140 cave bear skeletons found here in 1983 (Wikipedia, Bears' Cave).

Highlights

• The bear bones - skeletal remains left in position on the cave floor.
• The formation galleries - stalactites, columns and flowstone preserved by the long sealing.
• The lit walkway - a concrete route through the accessible chambers.
• The site museum - fossils and background on the discovery.

When to go

Open through the year and a good option in bad weather, since the temperature underground stays around ten degrees regardless of the season. Summer weekends bring long waits for the timed tours. Some winter periods and maintenance closures apply, so check before making a special trip.

What to expect

The tour is short and firmly guided; you move at the group's pace and stop where told. Lighting is functional rather than subtle and photography without a tripod is difficult. The bones on display are fewer than the numbers suggest, since most finds were removed for study. Bring a jacket, and expect the village outside to feel like a small commercial strip.

Nearby

The Apuseni plateau roads climb east; Beiuș and the Bihor spa villages are north.

Key facts