Skocjan, an underground marvel - Slovenia

Fact: the most visited site in Slovenia is a cave. However it is not Skocjan's, which for reasons of conservation was listed as a UNSECO World Heritage site, but Postojna's, which attracts around half a million visitors a year, or 20% of Slovenia's tourists. These two caves, among others (Slovenia's underground is home to around 9,000), are found in the Karst region, to the south-west of Ljubljana. A massif of limestone origin, Karst has several underground rivers running through it and its bed, which has changed over the centuries, has dug out several miles of galleries. Infiltrations of water charged with minerals make up the rest of the décor-stalactites and stalagmites covering whole walls or forming shadowy sculptures. In Skocjan, where the numbers of visitors are limited, you get the impression that there is no one else in the cave with you; quite an eerie feeling. As you make your way through the cave, the lights in each cavity turn on and off accordingly until you are in the centre of the cave and you experience pitch black darkness with the roaring of the underground rivers in the background. The exit is a welcome site after having crossed the chasm above the water by way of a concrete footbridge. http://www.park-skocjanske-jame.si. © Texte : Estelle Mariotte. Photo : Grégory Gérault.