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Baradla Cave at Aggtelek

In 1964 Hungary produced a 60f stamp (SG1984) depicting stal in the Baradla Cave at Aggtelek. In October I visited the cave and it is one of the most beautiful caves I have ever seen.

The cave, in Northern Hungary, is the country's longest at 25km, although 7km are in Czechoslovakia under the name of Domica. There are 6 entrances in Hungary: the main one under the cliff at Aggletek, Denévérag close by used on the short tour, 2 artificial ones in the Baradla valley, Vöröstós (1890) near the dolina (means red lake entrance), and finally Jósvafó (1928) above the Jósva resurgence. There are 4 entrances in Czechoslovakia.

The cave has only 2 side passages and the main passage is a tunnel of immense proportions packed full of formations providing a 7 km walk between the 2 main entrances. The show cave entrance at the base of the 50m cliff at Aggtelek was used by pre-historic man. It takes one through various chambers and following a railway line to a huge chamber used as a concert hall. This is the start of the large 7 km tunnel proper. In the concert hall there is a dammed pond providing boat rides for the tourists although in October the water level looked rather low. The formations are spectacular in this show cave. From the boating pond one leaves the lights a follows a mud path with bridges over the stream for 4 km. The whole passage is abundantly decorated with formations.

3.26 km from the Aggtelek entrance the side passage Retek (Radish) goes off, named after the radish shaped formations. This is definitely the prettiest part of the cave and is 3 km long. The average width is 2-3 m and height 4 m. The main passage continues along to the Jósvafó show cave. Words are inadequate to describe the size and beauty of this cave. The largest stal in Europe, the 25m high Observatory is tremendous and is in the Ốriások Terme (Giants Hall), which is the most spectacular part of the cave.

The first reference to the cave dates back to 1781. Electricity was installed in the 1920's and in 1935 petrol driven electric power plants were set up and lighting installed in the Hall of Columns on the Aggletek side and in the Giants Hall in Jósváfo. The lighting is very well done and the formations are free from algae. Hotels have been built at both entrances. I have seen many show caves in Europe but I think this one certainly takes some beating.