Devetashka Cave is one of the largest caves in Bulgaria, located on the eastern bank of the Osym River. It stretches for about one and a half thousand meters, and its entrance is a giant 35-meter-wide opening. To give you an idea of its height: a nine-story building is no more than thirty meters tall. Therefore, standing right at the entrance of the cave, you can truly feel the grandeur of this place.
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Inside the cave, there are eleven underground lakes and fourteen mineral springs, and along the way, you can encounter many unusual formations that are truly awe-inspiring!
Although the cave is not known for high visitor numbers, it attracts enough tourists, many of whom return time and again. Despite the variety of this place, Devetashka Cave can rightfully be called the most beautiful, largest, and unique cave not only in the country but in all of Europe.
This is a place you truly need to visit in person!
Features of the Cave
Due to numerous fissures, the cave is well-lit by sunlight. The falling light refracts and illuminates the local vegetation, creating indescribable landscapes of a wondrous world.
The cave is famous not only for its size but also for its history. According to archaeological studies, Devetashka Cave served as a shelter for ancient people for a long time. In the cave's sediment layer, remnants from the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Eneolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age have been found.
These range from flint tools and stone hearths to bronze battle axes and iron weapons.
All of this indicates that Devetashka Cave is an ancient historical site that everyone can touch.
World War II also left its mark here. During socialism, the cave was used as an ammunition storage facility in case of military action and also served as a storage for petroleum products. The cave still bears traces in the form of circles from those times.
An important part of this wonderful place is the variety of fauna. The cave is home to over a hundred different species of animals, some of which are even listed in the Red Book!
These include 12 species of protected amphibians (such as the European whip snake, smooth snake, newts, tree frogs, Hermann's tortoises), about 80 bird species, 34 mammal species, and 15 bat species.
The cave is closed during the bats' breeding season. Therefore, be prepared that it will not be possible to visit the cave from June until the end of July!
The Cave and Hollywood
Another feature of Devetashka Cave is its contribution to Hollywood. In 2011, several episodes of the famous film “The Expendables 2” were shot in the cave.
Near the bridge, which was built specifically for filming, a stand with the movie poster was installed.
Environmentalists were completely against the filming because they were concerned about the bat population. And, as it turned out, their concerns were not in vain. The film was made, but the number of mammals decreased almost threefold.
However, after a few years, another count revealed that the bat population had started to grow again. Now there are even more than before 2011.
Devetashka has a huge hall where collapses of the vault have occurred in several places. The upper surface fell along with all the vegetation, creating three small green islands.
Not far from the cave, near the village of Krushuna, you can visit a small but quite charming waterfall.
Entrance Fees
There is a free parking lot for cars in front of the cave. As for the cave itself, there is an entrance fee.
| Adult | 3 BGN (1.5 EUR) |
| Students, pupils, or pensioners | 2 BGN (1 EUR) |
| Groups larger than 15 people | 2 BGN (1 EUR) |
| Groups larger than 15 students, pupils, or pensioners | 1 BGN (0,5 EUR) |
| Families with children aged 7 to 18 years | 6 BGN (3 EUR) |
How to Get There from Sofia?
The best and most convenient option is to drive. The trip takes no more than three hours, so there is no need for forced stops.
You can rent a modern car of your choice from us, checking prices yourself.
If you prefer public transportation, you can analyze the bus schedules on the website avtogari.info.
How to Get There from the Coastal Resorts?
From the seaside, the trip from Sunny Beach or Burgas takes about five hours. If you wish, you can make a stop in Sliven along the way.
