Rotovnik Cave

Among more than 7,000 registered Slovenian caves, the Rotovnik Cave in Skorno near Šoštanj is certainly something special. And not because of its length, depth, large halls, or magnificent dripstone decoration. The most interesting thing about this cave is that a residential house grew over the accidentally discovered entrance, and to enter the cave you have to go, believe it or not, past a bar counter to the double door that separates the house from the cave. Rotovnik Cave lies 2 km from Šoštanj and only 50 metres from the Šoštanj – Mozirje road.

The Rotovnik karst cave is a gem of the Saleska Valley, hiding wonderful dripstone creations and also a rare aragonite mineral. It was discovered in 1978 during the arrangement of the foundations of a residential house. In doing so, the entrance to the cave was revealed. The very entrance to the cave is a special feature, as the path into it leads from a refreshment stop. Mr. Jurij Rotovnik, as a retired miner, was experienced enough that over ten years he arranged 60 m of cave passages for safe visits. He equipped the underground spaces with electric lighting, removed tonnes of sediment from the cave, and with stairs enabled comfortable passage through the chimney. The Aragonite Hall, as the largest space in the cave, is a karst classroom in miniature, full of stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, draperies, and columns. With a little imagination, one can see a nativity scene, a mother with a child, a miner, a lion, a fish, a mouse, and more.

The Aragonite Hall has one more special feature, after which it is also named. This is the aragonite hedgehog, a special needle-like form of limestone crystallisation, which is quite rare in Slovenia. The most beautiful aragonite clusters are in the Ravenska Cave near Cerkno, and they form under special conditions that are still not entirely explained. This is probably also due to a higher temperature, which would be possible given the nearby warm springs of Topolšica.

The cave is indeed not large, the tour is soon over, but the impressions, natural beauty, and the owner's incredible ingenuity do not leave us indifferent for a long time. The aragonite hedgehogs are a true wonder of nature; incredible, unrepeatable, and unique.

Rotovnik Cave is currently CLOSED to visitors.

Source: ringaraja.net