A Train Ride and a Hike inside a Subterranean World: Postojna Cave in Slovenia
In Slovenia they have probably one of the biggest cave systems in Europe with a double track railway: The Postojna Cave (Postojnska Jama). How they managed to build this railway inside the cave, is an amazing feat on its own.
I first checked the subterranean pictures online and it got me curious so I decided to pay a visit. It is not that far anyway from the capital, Ljubljana. Having a rental car has its own advantages.
It is 37 minutes with the car or 1 hour and 21 minutes with the train but I do not recommend public transport because the cave is not near the train station. There is a huge parking area outside the cave.
Here is the route and map:
The mini train of Postojna Cave travels 5 kilometres deep into the cave system which is actually more than 30 kilometres in length. So you can imagine that I have only explored about 15% of cave space here with the train ride. Once we have reached the end of the 5-kilometre track we got out and followed the cave tour guide through rocky passages, limestone tunnels and mazes of stalactites and stalagmites jutting out from all sides of the cave. Some looked like spaghetti hanging from the rugged ceiling, while others looked like humongous oversized trees turned alien. This is my first time to be inside a huge subterranean complex of caves. Pretty impressive I should say.
Important people such as politicians (Emmanuel Vittorio of Italy) and royalty (Francis I, Emperor of Austria-Hungary Empire) have visited this cave before.
What is also quite interesting about this particular cave is that an underground post office once held its office here for 46 years. It is not a joke people, 46 long years of underground operation =). It had me wondering for a brief moment there. Who the heck sends post mail from the cave except for the visitors who come to visit? Your guess is as good as mine.
The cave is also home to this human fish or olm, which to me looks more like a silken white lizard. The neotonic animal has been called the offspring of the dragon. Don't ask me why; touristy places like these have to make a living as well and they obviously try to make their tales exciting. Uh-huh, a human fish you say!? Wait, a dragon? Now that definitely triggers the tourist to shed off some bucks. We were not allowed to use flash to take pictures of these little animals so my picture below is not really the best.
To learn more about the cave, go here: Postojna Cave
You can see here the union of stalagmites and stalactites. Stalagmites rises from the ground while stalactites are the opposite, they hang down from the ceiling of the cave.
Travel Period: March 2014
Destination: Postojna (Inner Carniola), Slovenia
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
Postojnska Jama (Postojna Cave).
The tickets are not sold here at the entrance, you have to go to the building complex a few hundred metres away where the ticket office is located.
I first checked the subterranean pictures online and it got me curious so I decided to pay a visit. It is not that far anyway from the capital, Ljubljana. Having a rental car has its own advantages.
It is 37 minutes with the car or 1 hour and 21 minutes with the train but I do not recommend public transport because the cave is not near the train station. There is a huge parking area outside the cave.
Here is the route and map:
You can move the map by holding your mouse, as well as you can zoom it in and out by clicking on the + and - signs at the lower right hand.
The mini train of Postojna Cave travels 5 kilometres deep into the cave system which is actually more than 30 kilometres in length. So you can imagine that I have only explored about 15% of cave space here with the train ride. Once we have reached the end of the 5-kilometre track we got out and followed the cave tour guide through rocky passages, limestone tunnels and mazes of stalactites and stalagmites jutting out from all sides of the cave. Some looked like spaghetti hanging from the rugged ceiling, while others looked like humongous oversized trees turned alien. This is my first time to be inside a huge subterranean complex of caves. Pretty impressive I should say.
Important people such as politicians (Emmanuel Vittorio of Italy) and royalty (Francis I, Emperor of Austria-Hungary Empire) have visited this cave before.
What is also quite interesting about this particular cave is that an underground post office once held its office here for 46 years. It is not a joke people, 46 long years of underground operation =). It had me wondering for a brief moment there. Who the heck sends post mail from the cave except for the visitors who come to visit? Your guess is as good as mine.
The cave is also home to this human fish or olm, which to me looks more like a silken white lizard. The neotonic animal has been called the offspring of the dragon. Don't ask me why; touristy places like these have to make a living as well and they obviously try to make their tales exciting. Uh-huh, a human fish you say!? Wait, a dragon? Now that definitely triggers the tourist to shed off some bucks. We were not allowed to use flash to take pictures of these little animals so my picture below is not really the best.
To learn more about the cave, go here: Postojna Cave
There is a fix schedule for the train ride and tour and if you miss it, you will have to wait for the next. During peak season they have frequent rides and tours.
The train is light and open.
Not advisable to stand up whilst the train is moving as we pass through enclosed tunnels.
After the 5-kilometre train ride, our guide took us for a tour hike.
You can see here the union of stalagmites and stalactites. Stalagmites rises from the ground while stalactites are the opposite, they hang down from the ceiling of the cave.
It was super humid inside the cave that my hair became curly, haha.
This is the spaghetti room.
Because the thin stalactites look like spaghetti hanging from the ceiling.
I follow the group behind because I am taking time taking pictures and appreciating the limestone nature's work of art.
These are the finest formations I have seen... stunning. The colours are beautiful as well.
Gorgeous formations and colours. This one is special, the only white amongst the brown-orange-red orange.
The cave dweller, the human fish or olm.
Yup, in 1899 the Austrian Ministry of Commerce agreed to build and operate the first post office sited underground in the world. In Postojna Cave. It could have been a very valid decision? Slovenia was under Austria, Italy and Yugoslavia before.
The re-opening of the post office cave after the first world war.
The visit of the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele III and his wife Elena of Montenegro. You can spot the king easily in the picture because he is a very small man standing at just 1.53 cm (gosh, I am taller!).
Travel Period: March 2014
Destination: Postojna (Inner Carniola), Slovenia
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
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