Vilenica Cave

Vilenica has documented paying visitors from 1633, when the local parish began charging for entry and using the proceeds, which is early enough that it is regularly called the oldest tourist cave in Europe. It is smaller and plainer than Postojna, entered by a long descending stair, and the large chamber near the bottom, the Dance Hall, has been used for gatherings for centuries. Since 1986 it has hosted the Vilenica international literary festival, whose prize ceremony is held underground.

History

Until the middle of the 19th century Vilenica was known as the biggest, most beautiful and most visited cave of the Classical Karst, and it drew painters: Peter Fendi won a gold medal in 1821 for his oil painting of it. Postojna later overtook it. Since 1986 the cave's Dance Hall has been the setting for the Vilenica Prize, awarded by the Slovene Writers' Association to a Central European author at the centre of the annual Vilenica literary festival, usually in early September (Wikipedia, Vilenica Cave).

What's there

• The Dance Hall - the large chamber used for gatherings and the literary prize ceremony.
• The 1633 record - documented paid visits from the seventeenth century.
• The descending stair - a long stepped entry down through the cave.
• The formations - columns and curtains along the visited passage.

When to go

Year round at about ten degrees, so warm clothing is needed even in August. Tours run at fixed times and are fewer outside summer. The literary festival falls in September.

Practical notes

It is much smaller and less spectacular than Postojna or Skocjan and suffers by comparison. The stairs are long and there is no lift. Tour times are limited and out of season may run only at weekends.

Nearby

Lipica is southwest, and Skocjan Caves are south.

Key facts