WIERZCHOWSKA GÓRNA CAVE

Wierzchowie, commune Wielka Wieś, poviat Cracow, Małopolska voivodship


AVAILABILITY AND TOURING CONDITIONS

The cave is open daily:
- From 9 am to 4 pm (9 - 30 April)
- From 9 am to 5 pm (1 May - 31 August).
- From 9 am to 4 pm (1 September - 31 October)
- From 9 am to 3 pm (1 - 30 November)
During wintertime holidays (for Silesian and Malopolska voivodships) form 10 am to 3 pm. Organized tours should book in advance through telephone. Hourly entrance for individual visitors at 9 am, 10 am, etc. Foreign visitors should have their own interpreter. The route is partly available for disabled persons.

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES, ORIGINS, ATTRACTIVENESS, LEGAL PROTECTION ISSUES
The cave got formed in the Upper Jurassic limestone and is an excellent example of underground karstic formation. It is 1000 meter-long labyrinth of galleries and chambers with fairy-like ornamentations. There is no larger cave in the Cracovian Jura. The material finds discovered in the cave testify to intensive human activity in the Neolithic period (7000 years ago). Cave settlements are of particular interest for paleontologists. Bones of cave bear, hyena and other animals living here in the Ice Age were found in the cave-earth. The Wierzchowska Cave was one of Europe"s first to be opened for visitors (19thc.).
Now it has the longest tourist route of all Polish caves. The route leads through the winding Long Narrowing to the cave"s largest Ball Room via the Room with Kettles and the Little Hotel and ends up in the Primitive Man"s Room. The walls and the ceiling of the cave are nicely decorated with dripstone formations. Bats and meta menardi spiders attract attention of visitors. The cave is located on the territory of the Dolinki Podkrakowskie Jurassic Landscape Park and enjoys the status of nature monument.


LOCATION AND HOW TO GET THERE
The cave is located in the Kluczowody Valley, in the village of Wierzchowie near Biały Kościół, commune Wielka Wieś, poviat Cracow.

It can be reached by car or bus from Cracow, Katowice and Olkusz through road No 94. Take the direction of Zabierzów at Biały Kościół and then turn right into the first road leading towards Wierzchowie. Leave your vehicle in the parking site and walk following the signs for about 10 minutes.