Vilenica Cave
Guided visits have been recorded here since 1633, which makes Vilenica the oldest show cave in Europe. It is still run by local cavers.
Tourism before tourism
In 1633 the local lord, Count Petazzi, entrusted the cave to the parish of Lokev, which charged admission and shared the takings. No earlier record of organised cave tourism is known in Europe. Until the middle of the 19th century Vilenica was considered the largest and most beautiful cave of the Karst; then the inner parts of Postojna were opened and the crowds moved on.
The name is linked to vile, the fairies of Slavic folklore. Mist rising from the entrance on cold mornings was taken for their breath.
Vilenica Cave at a glance
- Slovene name
- Jama Vilenica
- Location
- Lokev, between Sežana and Lipica
- Length
- over 1,300 m
- Visitor route
- about 450 m
- Depth
- about 180 m
- First guided visits
- 1633
- Run by
- Sežana caving society
- Known for
- Vilenica international literary prize
Down through the Dance Hall
A stairway descends from the gated entrance into a succession of chambers thick with stalagmites, columns and flowstone curtains in shades from white to rust red. The largest, the Dance Hall, was used for balls in the 19th century.
The lighting is sparing and the groups are small. Guides are members of the caving club that restored the cave after decades of neglect and reopened it in 1963.
A prize awarded underground
Since 1986 the Dance Hall has hosted the closing ceremony of the Vilenica International Literary Festival, which honours writers from Central Europe. Laureates receive their prize by lamplight, a hundred steps below the surface.
The cave is five minutes from the Lipica stud farm, the original home of the Lipizzaner horse.
Vilenica Cave in figures
Inside and around Vilenica Cave
Select a photograph to enlarge it. All images are freely licensed; authors are listed in the photo credits.
Before you go
Getting there
The cave is signposted from the road between Sežana and Lokev, a short drive from the Sežana exit of the motorway and from the Italian border at Trieste.
On the tour
Tours last about an hour and involve several hundred steps down and back up. The temperature is around 10 °C.
Good to know
Regular tours run on a limited schedule, typically on Sundays and public holidays, with extra dates in summer. Groups can arrange visits at other times. Check before making a special journey.
Opening times, tour schedules and prices change with the season. Always confirm them with the operator before you travel: vilenica.com.
