Romania Travel Tip: #4 The Bear's Cave

Dear Steemit friends,

Welcome to my blog, where I try to promote some of the most beautiful places, architectural sites and natural wonders of my homeland, Romania.

The main purpose is to make Romania your travel destination in the near future.
If I manage that, then my mission is complete

This is my #4 post of a Travel Tip series, and today I would like to show you the The Bear's Cave

The Bear's Cave is a natural masterpiece, being unique in Romania and Europe.
It is one of the main tourist attractions of the Apuseni Mountains. Located in Bihor County, near the village of Chişcău, at an altitude of 482m, The Bear's Cave was discovered accidentally in 1975 following local mining operations.
The opening to the underground passage was achieved after the entrance was dynamited. Miner Traian Curta was the one who first descended to this cave, going through the gallery to the Great Hall of the cave.

Although at the time of the discovery, the mining company tried to destroy the cave so that the mining could continue, the rescue and conservation of the cave was eventually made possible and in 1980 was opened for public.

The Bears Cave consists of 4 main galleries: Bones Gallery, Emil Racovita Gallery, Candle Gallery, and Scientific Gallery. Access to the Scientific Gallery, which is accessible only by descending in a 30m well, is for professional speleologists.

In the 3 main galleries of the Cave, you will be able to discover the remains of the Cavern Bear as well as various impressive natural formations such as stalactites and stalagmites, some of them receiving names from the features they denote, such as the Charming Palace, the Little House, the Lake with Lights, the Elder's Advice, and so on.

Historians say that this cave was inhabited, about 17,000 years ago by the Cavern bear (Ursus spelaeus), a species that disappeared from the earth. 10.000 year's old bear bones was discovered inside. As a result of the research, it was established that the cave was inhabited only by this bear species. Approximately 17,000 years ago, perhaps after a mighty earthquake, the only entrance to the cave was closed and the bears inside at that time remained captive and died of starvation.

In the cave, the temperature is +10 degrees Celsius, all year round, regardless of season or weather conditions.

Visiting programme:
From Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.

Entrance Fee:
Adults – 15 lei ($4)
Children – 10 lei ($2.5)
Photo fee: 15 lei ($2.5)
Video fee: 25 lei ($6)

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