highlights

Rajkova cave is located near the city of Majdanpek, and is one of the most beautiful caves in Serbia. Three little mountain rivers: Jankova, Paskova and Rajkova have built a whole system of halls, channels and corridors. Rajkova cave consists of two levels: dry one and wet one. The total length of the cave is 2.304 meters. This cave is renowned for its rich cave decoration such as stalactites, stalagmites, pillars etc.

High-quality information on Rajkova cave, as well as the detailed map of the cave, can be found on the following address: http://www.muzej-mpek.org.yu/priroda/pecina.htm 

 

history

According to a local legend, Rajkova cave was named after duke Rajko, who is believed to have lived in the 17th century. Legend has it that, together with his friend Martin the priest, he used to rob Turkish caravans and hide the spoil in this cave.

A stone hammer found in the cave, that is today kept in the archeological collection of Majdanpek museum, testifies that the front part of the cave was inhabited in prehistoric times.

The first explorer of this cave was Jovan Cvijic, who explored it in 1894. Page exploration was continued in 1974 under the supervision of dr. Radenko Lazarevic, by the royal team of speleologists. Cave was open for the public in 1975.

getting there

Rajkova cave is located only 2.5 kilometres from the centre of Majdanpek, around 120 kilometres from Belgrade. There are three daily buses connecting Belgrade with Majdanpek, leaving Belgrade at 09.45 am, 05.45 pm and 06.45 pm.

There is also a train going from Belgrade to Majdanpek, leaving Belgrade every day at 04.25 pm, arriving in Majdanpek at 08.46 pm.

The cave is open for visitors throughout the year, but a group should not be smaller than 10 persons. Since it is not so easy to gather such a group, we still need to verify if this information is correct. Cave tours are organised by Kasina hotel from Majdanpek. Information and reservations can be done on 030 / 81 338

Admission fee is 50 CSD .

things to see

From the new cave entrance, opened in 1974 to serve as the entrance for the visitors, a 40 meters long iron bridge takes you above the Rajko’s river and right to the Hedgehog’s hall. This hall is 25 meters wide, and owes its name to the thin, pointy stalagmites that cover the ceiling. Stalactites are made of white crystal calcite. The cave branches here into two corridors – the lower one, where Rajko’s river flows, and the upper one, which is on the right side and leads to the dry level of the cave.

If you follow the Rajko’s river, you can see a number of stalactites, while the stalagmites are mostly located in the upper parts of the corridor, often connected to the pillars and curtains. Some of the most famous examples of cave decoration are “Stump with the Mushrooms”, “The Parade Elephant”, “Haystack” etc.

About 400 meters from the entrance there is the underground confluence where the Janko’s river flows into the Rajko’s river, and if you keep walking you’ll reach the dam built by the French in the mid 19th century, for regulating the level of water.

If you take the 22 meters tall spiral staircase that leads from the Hedgehog’s hall you’ll reach the cave’s dry level, that offers some of the most beautiful sights in the cave. All the cave ornaments are made of white crystal calcite, and the floor has a lot of shallow basins. Some of the cavities have bottoms made of coral – white calcite.

The Hall of the Menhirs contains a number of white coloured stalagmites. Here you can also see the Giant Organ, a 4.5 meters tall pillar, as well as a small lake, dimensions 2 x 3 meters, in a calcite basin. The Red Waterfall is a rocky formation made of red stone, resembling a 4 meters tall petrified waterfall.

The Crystal hall, dimensions 20 x 30 metes, is where the Crystal City is located, composed from a number of crystal pillars, stalactites and stalagmites.