Post from lusika33
Bulgaria: Magura Cave
The Magura cave was formed in the limestone Rabishkiy kurgan, at an altitude of 461 meters above sea level. This is one of the largest caves in Bulgaria. The total length of the galleries discovered so far is about 2,600 meters. The formation of the cave began about 15 million years ago. On the way to Belogradchik, next to which the cave is located, we were stopped for the first and only time by local traffic cops: they robbed a bank and all over Bulgaria there were raids on the roads ... 
Magura Cave is located 35 km southwest of Vidin on the Danube River in northwestern Bulgaria. The cave is located 17 km from the town of Belogradchik, 1.5 km from the village of Rabisha. The cave consists of a main gallery and three lateral branches. Our excursion below began from the left side of the diagram, we reached the right end, but did not leave there, but returned back ...
This is how the first hall of the cave looks like - Triumphal, which you enter through the entrance tunnel (the tunnel goes to the left in the photo). The dimensions of the hall are impressive: length 128 meters, width 58 meters, height 28 meters. Previously, a river flowed through the cave, but then a karst failure occurred and the river changed its course, forming a lake not far from the cave. The natural entrance to the cave is almost vertical and inaccessible without special equipment, so another entrance was cut for convenience. The cave is lit, although it is still not as bright as it appears in the long exposure photo. Rather, such a mystical twilight reigns in it, forcing your imagination to work hard :)
The temperature in the cave is +12 degrees all year round and is very humid. When moving through the cave, we noticed signs of shortness of breath, and when they came out of it all the clothes were wet from the absorbed moisture from the cave. Plus visiting the cave in winter, besides the fact that there are no people :) also the fact that the temperature outside is winter, and it is warm in the cave :)
We continue our way through the Triumphal Hall into the depths of the cave ...
There are several species of bats, beetles, wood lice, mushrooms. we saw two large colonies of bats. Some of the mice were hanging right on the walls we walked past and could be seen and touched (they did not react at all). The bones of a cave bear, cave hyena, and others were found in the cave.
The cave is also used for the production of champagne and red wines, aged under natural conditions, similar to those in the production of French champagne. By the way, Magura champagne is a very worthy wine! We saw it on sale only in Belogradchik itself of the "Brut" and "Sukhoi" varieties, bought several bottles and later regretted that it was not enough :) This is a real high-quality naturally carbonated champagne! A French one of similar quality, I think, will cost from 100 euros, Magura will be sold for 17 euros. Just in the photo below is the hall where wine was made earlier. Now the winery is located in an offshoot of this hall (Vinarska izba in the diagram) and is simply not accessible for tourists.
Man lived here during the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age. The first archaeological research was made in 1927 by V. Mikhov. Fragments of ceramics from the Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age were discovered. A detailed study of the hall was made by the Archaeological Institute and Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Regional Museum of the History of the city of Vidin in 1971, 1976. Houses, stoves, tools (scrapers, knives, awls, ornaments) made of flint, stone, bones and deer antlers were found in spacious reefs over a large area. Pottery was also found. The dwellings were built of clay, attached to the floor with wooden stakes at a distance of 25 cm from each other, and were also plastered with clay. The roofs of the dwellings were the vaults of the cave. The floor was yellow clay. The stoves were rectangular with dimensions 1.3 x1.1m.
We pass to the next hall ...
The next hall is named Landslide. Its area is 2,800 m2, 85 meters long, 68 meters wide and up to 27 meters high in the western part. There are many boulders in the hall, torn from the walls and ceiling.
Hall of the stalacton, so named because of the huge stalacton in the very center. "Big stalacton" is more than 20 meters high, and its base diameter is 4 meters. By the way, everyone remembers that:
- Stalactites (Greek Σταλακτίτης - "dripped dropwise") - chemogenic deposits in karst caves in the form of formations hanging from the ceiling (icicles, straws, combs, fringes, etc.).
- Stalagmites (from the Greek σταλαγμίτης - drop) - drip mineral formations (mostly calcareous, less often gypsum, salt), growing in the form of cones, pillars from the bottom of caves and other underground karst cavities towards stalactites
- Stalagnate, or stalactone - drip-drip chemogenic deposition in karst caves. Stalagnates are column-like formations that arise when stalactites and stalagmites combine.
This huge boulder of 19x24 meters came off the wall from above. Now there is something like a concert venue. We, however, did not find the performances (maybe this is because there were only four of us in the cave? :)
another colony of mice ...
General form hall from the opposite end.
In almost every cave we have seen, there is a place where visitors leave coins to make various nishtyaks.
The room is called "Library"
This hall is called "The Fallen Pine" and covers an area of \u200b\u200b3,590 m2. Dimensions: 102 meters long, 48 meters wide, maximum height: 14 meters. The name of the hall is associated with a large fallen stalagmite 11.4 meters long and 6 meters in diameter at the base. In the foreground is the stalagmite Dragon, 2.6 m high. The northern part of this room is the lowest point of the cave, which is 50 meters below the entrance.
This figure has not been identified yet, perhaps it is "Organ" or " Eastern city"
We pass to the "Poplar" hall. The cornice on the Wailing Wall is highlighted in green.
The length of the hall is from 121 to 35 meters, the height is maximum 21 meters and covers an area of \u200b\u200b3.390 m2. A slender stalagmite with a height of 6.2 m, which is called a poplar, has miraculously survived in the hall. On the left in the photo - the vertical "Wailing Wall", which ends with a large terrace (highlighted in green), crowned with small beautiful stalagmites "Baghdad".
At the end of the poplar hall, exit from the cave. It was now closed.
To the left of the exit, there is a path leading to the "Throne Room".
That, in fact, because of the design on the left, the hall was called the throne room;)
The passage in the photo below leads to a closed branch of the cave, which has been used for medicinal purposes since the 50s of the 20th century. The population of the Earth knows about the healing properties of the climate of sylvinite caves since ancient times. Speleion in translation from Greek means a cave. Scientific sources claim that sylvinite caves were used by priests-healers to heal the ruling elite in Ancient Greece... The beneficial effects of sylvinite-salt caves were noticed in Germany in the Klutert cave in 1945. The cave was used as a medical unit and a bomb shelter during the Second World War. It was noticed that in patients with bronchial asthma, who were in this bomb shelter, asthma attacks, coughing stopped, breathing was facilitated, well-being improved, patients quickly recovered. In 1949, a German physician, Dr. Spannagel, proposed to establish an inpatient department in the Klütert cave in order to conduct medical observations to confirm the effectiveness of speleotherapy in the sylvinite cave. Joint researches of Dr. Spannagel and Hungarian speleologist Dr. Ressler provided convincing evidence of the high impact of the microclimate of the sylvinite cave on the human body. The Klütert Cave is currently used by German doctors to treat patients with diseases of the immune system, respiratory system, allergic diseases and other diseases. Sylvinite natural mines and developments began to be used for treatment in all countries where they are available.
The sanatorium (formerly the Ceremonial Hall) was transformed into a temporary hospital - sanatorium "Cave Magura" for 30 beds for patients with bronchial asthma. Experiments with patients in 1974-75 yielded good results. Favorable climatic conditions in this room (absolutely clean air without allergens, constant temperature 11-12, constant humidity, very good ionization, isolation from external noise and special lighting), create the most suitable psychological state for bronchial asthma. In this way, sufferers receive significant relief from breathing problems.
Unfortunately, we did not get into the part of the cave where the rock carvings are located: we could probably go through, but the narrow and very long passage was not lit and we could not even figure out where to go (we did not have a flashlight) , and the slippery floor with steep ascents and descents and sharp stones everywhere did not dispose to photo feats. The rock drawings are made with bat guano. They are multi-layer, dated to different epochs - the Epipaleolithic, Neolithic, Eneolithic, the beginning of the Early Bronze Age. If desired, their photos can be easily found in the internet.
Cave Magura until 1972 was called Rabishka cavebecause it is near the village Rabisha over Rabishko lake. It is 25 kilometers from the city. The cave is located inside a limestone mountain (461 m above sea level), which is called Rabishka grave.
The road from Belogradchik is marked in blue.
Here is a diagram of the Magura cave inside the hill Rabishka grave.
Magura is one of the largest caves in Bulgaria - its length is 2608 meters, but tourists are taken only 1750 m. The entrance to the cave is guarded and is located on the southwestern slope of the hill at an altitude of 371 meters above sea level, and the exit is 7 meters lower. Then in the galleries the level drops to 56 meters.
Magura has one main gallery, in which 6 different halls have formed and three galleries that go off to the side. total area Magura caves 28600 sq.m. But fear not - you don't have to go around it all. Tourists are taken only through the central gallery and the gallery with rock paintings - at will and for a fee. And some gallery was closed to the public. There are bats in the cave - stick, but no one forbade us to take pictures. Usually not - so as not to scare the mice.
"Triumphal Hall" 21 meters high, hall Shit - 27 meters. By the way, unlike everyone else underground caves in Bulgaria, where I have been, the ceilings of this cave are the highest. Caves and other nature - not to be confused. Music concerts are held in the Triumphal Hall.
Magura Cave is remarkable in that it has always been inhabited. Previously, people lived here, but now they conduct their economic activities, that is, they drive tourists and make champagne - in some halls the Bulgarian sparkling wine Magura matures. It can be bought both at the exit from the cave and in Belogradchik.
The first archaeological research in Magura was carried out in 1927, when fragments of clay vessels were discovered, dating from the period from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. In 1976, stoves, dwellings and tools made of silicon, stone, bone and antlers were discovered here.
There is a hall in the southern part of the cave Shooting range... It is known that in 1943 a partisan detachment trained here in shooting " Georgi Benkovski".
There is a gallery in the western part of Srutishche " Slavata"- there you can see many cave drawings, which were made using feces (guano) bats. These drawings are schematic female and male figures. It is believed that they were made in the early Bronze Age. There are also more modern drawings. The guide explains and shows how to distinguish them.
Also in the cave there is a huge stalagnate - this is a column formed from stalactites and stalagmites. This "Golemic stalacton" has a height of 20 meters and a girth of 12 meters.
The cave also has its own "Wailing Wall", on top of which there are interesting stalagmites, reminiscent of a city - called " Baghdad".
In 1974, an experiment was carried out in Magura to treat patients with bronchial asthma, and since then one of the halls is called "Sanatorium"... The absolutely clean air in this place, a constant temperature of 11-12 ° C, constant humidity, good ionization and special lighting contributed to the relief of the suffering of patients.
It is believed that Magura Cave began to form 15 million years ago.
And here you can see the date "1833" - the guide says that local residents always hid here, if necessary.
The ceilings in the gallery with pictures were smoked from torches and fires that once were here.
Blue spot from phone flash.
Something is written here in Old Church Slavonic.
About this drawing, the guide said that ancient people ate hallucinogenic mushrooms, and then danced like this 🙂
It is hard to see in the photo, but there is good lighting in the cave - it makes you feel its depth and space.
I indicate that it is necessary to shoot 🙂
There is a ticket booth at the entrance to the cave where you can drink coffee and buy souvenirs. Only organized groups go to the cave with a local guide who is waiting for the group already here. Entrance every hour: first entrance at 10.00, last at 16.30. The ticket price for one adult is BGN 5 (EUR 2.5). To get to the cave with drawings, you need to pay an additional 6 leva. There are family tickets for couples with children under 18 - they cost 12 leva. At the exit, a tram will be waiting for you - the ticket price is 2 leva (1 euro), which will take you to the entrance where the parking lot is.
In Magura, the constant temperature is 12 ° C, so dress appropriately. Also in the central gallery it is a little damp - that is, the stones under your feet are slippery and dirty - this should also be taken into account when dressing for this walk: the shoes will be dirty, and the feet will be splattered. You can take a flashlight and gloves.
The cave is equipped with stone stairs with metal handrails - they are wet and cold. The cave with rock paintings is much drier and warmer - 15 ° C. And there is also better lighting, because the ceilings are lower and you can take pictures there. In the central gallery, the flash drowns in the height of the vaults and my photos did not work out.
One of the largest caves in Bulgaria is Magura Cave. It was formed in the limestone Rabishkiy kurgan, at an altitude of 461 meters above sea level.
The formation of the cave began about 15 million years ago, and its total length is about 2,600 meters.
Magura Cave is located 35 km southwest of Vidin on the Danube River in northwestern Bulgaria. It consists of a main gallery and three lateral branches. Our excursion below began from the left side of the diagram, we reached the right end, but did not go out there, but returned back ... The excursion is only in Bulgarian. This diagram will help you navigate our story if you want.
This is how the first hall of the cave looks like - Triumphal, which you enter through the entrance tunnel (the tunnel goes to the left in the photo). The dimensions of the hall are impressive: length 128 meters, width 58 meters, height 28 meters. Previously, a river flowed through the cave, but then a karst failure occurred and the river changed its course, forming a lake not far from the cave. The natural entrance to the cave is almost vertical and inaccessible without special equipment, so another entrance was cut for convenience. The cave is lit, although it is still not as bright as it appears in the long exposure photo. Rather, such a mystical twilight reigns in it, forcing your imagination to work hard.
The temperature in the cave is +12 degrees all year round and is very humid. When moving through the cave, we noticed signs of shortness of breath, and when they came out of it all the clothes were wet from the absorbed moisture from the cave. The advantage of visiting the cave in winter, besides the fact that there is no one else, is that the temperature outside is winter, and it is warm in the cave. We continue our journey through the Triumphal Hall into the depths of the cave ...
There are several species of bats, beetles, wood lice, mushrooms. we saw two large colonies of bats. Some of the mice were hanging right on the walls we walked past and could be seen and touched (they did not react at all). The bones of a cave bear, cave hyena, and others were found in the cave
The cave is also used for the production of champagne and red wines, aged under natural conditions, similar to those in the production of French champagne. Just in the photo below is the hall where wine was made earlier. Now the winery is located in an offshoot of this hall (Vinarska izba in the diagram) and is simply not available for visiting by tourists
Man lived here during the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age. The first archaeological research was made in 1927 by V. Mikhov. Fragments of ceramics from the Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age were discovered. Houses, stoves, tools (scrapers, knives, awls, ornaments) made of flint, stone, bones and deer antlers were found in spacious reefs over a large area. Pottery was also found. The dwellings were built of clay, attached to the floor with wooden stakes at a distance of 25 cm from each other, and were also plastered with clay. The roofs of the dwellings were the vaults of the cave. The floor was yellow clay. The ovens were rectangular with dimensions 1.3 x 1.1 m
We pass to the next hall ...
The next hall is named Landslide. Its area is 2,800 square meters, 85 meters long, 68 meters wide and up to 27 meters high in the western part. There are many boulders in the hall, torn from the walls and ceiling
Hall of the stalacton, so named because of the huge stalacton in the very center. "Big stalacton" is over 20 meters high, and its base diameter is 4 meters. Yes, by the way, everyone remembers that: Stalactites (Greek Σταλακτίτη «-“ dripping down ”) are chemogenic deposits in karst caves in the form of formations hanging from the ceiling (icicles, straws, combs, fringes, etc.). Stalagmites (from the Greek σταλαγμίτη - drop) are drip mineral formations (mostly calcareous, less often gypsum, salt), growing in the form of cones, pillars from the bottom of caves and other underground karst cavities towards stalactites. Stalagnate, or stalacton, is a drip chemogenic deposition in karst caves. Stalagnates are column-like formations that arise when stalactites and stalagmites combine.
This huge boulder of 19 × 24 meters came off the top of the wall. Now there is something like a concert venue. We, however, did not find the performance (maybe it was because there were only four of us in the cave?
General view of the hall from the opposite end
This hall is called "The Fallen Pine" and covers an area of \u200b\u200b3,590 sq.m. Dimensions: 102 meters long, 48 meters wide, maximum height: 14 meters. The name of the hall is associated with a large fallen stalagmite 11.4 meters long and 6 meters in diameter at the base. In the foreground is the stalagmite Dragon, 2.6 m high.The northern part of this room is the lowest point of the cave, which is 50 meters below the entrance.
This figure has not been identified yet, perhaps it is "Organ" or "Eastern City"
We pass to the Topol hall. The cornice on the "Wailing Wall" is highlighted in green
The length of the hall is from 121 to 35 meters, the height is maximum 21 meters and covers an area of \u200b\u200b3 390 sq.m. A slender stalagmite with a height of 6.2 m, which is called a poplar, was miraculously preserved in the hall. On the left in the photo - the vertical "Wailing Wall", which ends with a large terrace (highlighted in green), crowned with small beautiful stalagmites "Baghdad"
At the end of the poplar hall, exit from the cave. It was closed now
To the left of the exit, there is a path leading to the "Throne Room"
That, in fact, because of the construction on the left, the hall was called the throne
The passage in the photo leads to a closed branch of the cave, which has been used for medicinal purposes since the 50s of the 20th century. The population of the Earth knows about the healing properties of the climate of sylvinite caves since ancient times. Speleion in Greek means a cave. Scientific sources state that sylvinite caves were used by priests-healers to heal the ruling elite in ancient Greece. The beneficial effects of sylvinite-salt caves were noticed in Germany in the Klutert cave in 1945. The cave was used as a medical unit and a bomb shelter during the Second World War. It was noticed that in patients with bronchial asthma, who were in this bomb shelter, asthma attacks, coughing stopped, breathing was facilitated, well-being improved, the patients quickly recovered. The Klütert Cave is currently used by German doctors to treat patients with diseases of the immune system, respiratory system, allergic diseases and other diseases. Sylvinite natural mines and developments began to be used for treatment in all countries where they exist. The sanatorium (formerly the Ceremonial Hall) was transformed into a temporary hospital - sanatorium "Cave Magura" for 30 beds for patients with bronchial asthma. Experiments with patients in 1974-75 yielded good results. Favorable climatic conditions in this room (absolutely clean air without allergens, constant temperature 11-12, constant humidity, very good ionization, isolation from external noise and special lighting), create the most suitable psychological state for bronchial asthma. In this way, sufferers receive significant relief from breathing problems. Unfortunately, we did not get into the part of the cave where the rock paintings are located: we could probably go there, but the narrow and very long passage was not lit and we could not even figure out where to go (we did not have a flashlight) , and the slippery floor with steep ascents and descents and sharp stones everywhere did not dispose to photo feats. The rock drawings are made with bat guano. They are multi-layer, dated to different epochs - the Epipaleolithic, Neolithic, Eneolithic, the beginning of the Early Bronze Age. If desired, their photos can be easily found in the internet.
The most popular cave in Bulgaria is located near the village of Rabisha. It is popular for its prehistoric drawings, 2700 BC and the largest in Bulgaria 
stalagmite "Fallen Pine", which reaches 11 meters in length and 6 meters in width. In addition to "pine" there are others with their own names: Waterfall, Mosque, Poplar, Cologne Cathedral, etc. Drawings with hunting scenes, dancing men, etc. The cave galleries are quite large and extended, about 2.5 km. One of the halls houses a wine cellar with sparkling wines, for which the cave has ideal storage conditions.
History
Scientists believe that people lived here in the late Paleolithic era (100,000 -40,000 BC). The very name Magura - in Slavic mythology, the warrior maiden, the daughter of Perun, the owner of living water, the patroness of warriors.
Climate
It's cool in the cave, about 12 degrees, so dress appropriately for the excursion.
Transport
The cave is located 180 km. from Sofia, 17 km. from Belogradchik, 1.5 km. from the village of Rabisha and 35 km. from Vidin.
Attractions nearby:
There is a small museum in the nearest village. In the vicinity of the village there is a Rabishkino lake, which is quite deep (35-40 meters) and has a glacial origin. Various fish are caught on the lake: saffron, silver carp, catfish, grass carp.
Excursions:
The tour lasts an hour and a half, costs BGN 4, and is run in groups of 10 or less.
Nearby caves:
Names in Bulgarian.
Magura is one of the most interesting caves in the world. She is overgrown with legends, has the richest history... Life has always been eventful and inextricably linked with man. Archaeologists note that people began to inhabit it in the Bronze Age. Scientists have been working since 1927.
In addition to clay products and flint tools, they found whole clay houses in the cave. The houses were built close to each other, fastened with stakes to the floor. Ancient people hunted, knew how to sew and cooked food on rectangular ovens. In addition, they left a whole gallery of rock art. About 700 drawings depicting hunters, dancing people and people in masks. It can be seen that both men and women are dancing. There are also drawings of plants, sun, stars, moon. The sketches presented remind solar calendar.
Experts estimate that he had at least 366 days and 5 holidays. It is called the first calendar in the world, and has even been compared to the Mayan calendar. All drawings are hollowed out in the wall and then painted. Ancient artists made black paint for their creations from bat droppings.
Bats are permanent inhabitants of the cave. Their colonies hang from the ceiling, on the walls. In some places, you can touch them with your hand. Mice are not the only inhabitants of the cave. They share a neighborhood with woodlice and several species of beetles. In the past, cave bears and hyenas may have lived here. The bones of these animals were found by researchers in the gallery.
Later, people used the halls of the cave for storing and aging wines. The temperature here is always 12 degrees. The winery in the cave is currently closed to tourists, but is open. Wine "Magura" costs only 17 euros and is not inferior in quality to French wines.
Magura cave: video
IN war time a hospital and a bomb shelter were set up in the cave; used some of its rooms to treat allergy sufferers. The cave gallery stretches for almost three kilometers and has several lateral branches. It is worth seeing cave pearls, stalactites, stalagmites, a huge stalacton "fallen pine".
Magura cave: photos
