Slovakia as a gate to the center of Earth

Dobšinská ľadová jaskyňa/Dobšinská Ice Cave is one of the most enchanting places in Slovakia. Massive glaciers, several meters long trinkets and the color palette of these formations will remain in the memory of every visitor for a very long time. The cave has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List since 2000.

We start our first trip "to the center of the Earth" at a small resort at the beginning of the forest, where it is possible to park, get refreshments or take one of the trains running on the local railway line (highly recommended!). 

The very entrance to the cave is hidden in the forest and we reach it by an educational trail after a 25-minute walk (along a relatively steep forest walk). We don't even try to describe the beauty that awaits us in words.

The cave is exceptional on a global scale, as in contrast to the well-known alpine caves in the Austrian Alps or the Romanian Scărişoara Cave in the Bihor Mountains, the monumental glaciation of the Dobšinská Ice Cave at an altitude of only 920 to 950 m is a real world rarity.

Demänovská jaskyňa slobody/Demänovská Cave of Freedom is the dominant feature of the karst Demänovské Caves, the longest cave system in Slovakia (The length of the measured parts so far is 35.2 km). It is the most visited cave in Slovakia, which is definitely not a coincidence. Thanks to the presence of iron and manganese, its rich sinter filling bursts with many colors: from white through yellow, red to black.

The cave is relatively easy to access - just walk down the serpentine path from the parking lot, which is less than 400 meters. As we rank among the more persistent, we choose a long tour and extend the effects of the unique properties of the cave - almost one hundred percent humidity, sterility of the environment without bacteria, allergens, mold. The cave spaces are therefore used to treat respiratory diseases and allergies.

The cave really has something to offer its visitors. There are karst lakes, various drop decorations, sinter water lilies, rare stalactites and pearls (balls in the form of peas).

The Demänovská ľadová jaskyňa/Demänovská Ice Cave is located in the picturesque surroundings of the Nízke Tatry/Low Tatras in the lower part of the Demänovská dolina/valley. After the Dobšinská Ice Cave, it is the second largest cave of its kind in Slovakia. Also called the dragon cave for the site of the bones of cave bears, which were incorrectly considered as dragons.

From the parking lot below the cave we can see the entrance area about 90 m above the bottom of the valley, to which we ascend a serpentine path. Around Kamenná chata/cottage we continue along a forest path (600 m) with boards of an educational trail and two rest stops. The ascent to the cave takes us about 20 minutes.

The tour route passes through massive river corridors, connected by steep sections. The first part of the route leads through cave spaces with sinter decoration, the second part through the icy spaces of the cave.

Our pilgrimage through the cave took place some year ago, but under the influence of global warming, it has reached the minimum of ice filling in the last 70 years or so, so run while there is still one.