UNESCO Škocjan Caves, a mysterious wonder of nature

The Karst region in south-west Slovenia is a true wonder. Over the centuries the waters have carved large underground caves and created a fantastical world of unusual shapes. Visit and admire the beauty of the Škocjan Caves, where they mark important anniversaries this year – 20 years of the establishment of the Regional Park and 30 years since the caves were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park authorities expect the celebration events to attract even more visitors.

The Škocjan Caves are one of the biggest of Slovenian natural attractions. A natural phenomenon of great scale, with large caves and mysterious underground halls, can easily match the great wonders of the world. The massive system of caves, which boasts the largest known underground canyon in the world, generated a record number of visitors in 2015. It was visited by nearly 131,960 people, of whom 107,460 came from abroad, mostly from Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic.

A number of events will be held throughout this year, marking 2 anniversaries. The caves joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986, and in 1996 the management of the caves established a regional park. As part of the celebrations, several photo exhibitions will take place and a new book on the Škocjan Caves will be published. The park will organise several hiking trips and launch an online UNESCO library with works on the Škocjan Caves Regional Park and the Karst Biosphere Reserve.

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