Show caves
Protection and operation of the 12 show caves – Belianska Cave, Bystrianska Cave, Demänovská Cave of Liberty, Demänovská Ice Cave, Dobšinská Ice Cave, Domica Cave, Driny Cave, Gombasecká Cave, Harmanecká Cave, Jasovská Cave, Ochtinská Aragonite Cave and Važecká Cave – is provided by the Slovak Caves Administration as a specialized organization of nature protection under the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic. It observes the influence of visitors on cave environment and takes care of its adequate and optimal use.
All above stated show caves are designated national nature monuments.
Within the world natural heritage are since 1995 included Ochtinská Aragonite Cave, Domica Cave, Gombasecká Cave and Jasovská Cave, and since 2000 also Dobšinská Ice Cave. As invaluable and irreplaceable values of the world importance they require a special protection, care and presentation.
Show caves belong among real gems of Slovakia. Several of them are known in Europe and even in the world. Thus they are luring invitation to interesting quest for beauty and cognition. We believe that this page will give you enough information on these masterpieces of nature. The page is firstly aimed at visitors of show caves, but also for other interested people. Will you try to compare it with reality! If it meets your expectations, the pleasure will be also on our side – the employees of the Slovak Caves Administration.
Belianska Cave
Belianska Cave (entrance at 885 m) is the only show cave in the High Tatras on the northern slope of the Kobylí Hill above the Tatranská Basin
Bystrianska Cave
Located in the ponor zone of the Bystrá-Valaská Karst in the Bystrá foothills of the Upper Hron River Valley, on the southern edge of Bystrá village.
Demänovská Cave of Liberty
Located on the right hand side of the Demänovská Valley, on the northern side of the Low Tatras, in the Demänovská dolina national nature reserve within the territory of the Low Tatras National Park.
Demänovská Ice Cave
Located on the right hand side of the Demänovská Valley, on the northern side of the Low Tatras, in the Demänovská dolina national nature reserve within the territory of the Low Tatras National Park.
Dobšinská Ice Cave
Located on the south-western edge of the Slovak Paradise National Park in Spiš-Gemer karst. Cave entrance is on the northern slope of the Duča Hill at elevation of 969 m, 130 m above the Hnilec River valley.
Domica Cave
Located on the south-western edge of the Silická plateau in the Slovak Karst National Park, close to the state border with Hungary.
Driny Cave
The only show cave in the western Slovakia. Located in the Smolenice karst in Malé Karpaty, to the south-west from Smolenice town, close to the recreation centre Jahodník.
Gombasecká Cave
Located on the western foothill of the Silická Plateau in the Slovak Karst National Park, on the left side of the Slaná River canyon between Rožňava and Plešivec.
Harmanecká Cave
National nature monument Harmanecká Cave is the most known cave in the Great Fatra. It is located in the Harmanec karst where except for this cave there are other significant wild caves - Horná and Dolná Túfna Cave with findings of ancient animal bones.
Jasovská Cave
Located in the Medzev Upland close to the eastern edge of the Jasovská Plateau of the Slovak Karst, on the western edge of the Jasov village.
Ochtinská Aragonite Cave
It is a specific formation also in the world perspective thanks to ist varied aragonite fill. It is located on the northern slope of the Hrádok Hill in the Slovenské Rudohorie Mts. near the road between Štítnik and Jelšava, 26 km from Rožňava.
Važecká Cave
Located in the Važecký karst on the contact of the Kozie chrbty with the Liptovská Basin, on the western edge of the Važec village between Liptovský Mikuláš and Poprad.