After the formation of a new government, the Municipality of Yablanitsa will submit a new request to the Council of Ministers to acquire the ownership of the Saeva Dupka cave, which is currently managed by the Bulgarian Tourist Union.
„The battle for Saeva Dupka continues. We are waiting for the new cabinet and we are starting from scratch. We will not give up. Let's hope we find understanding for this case, because it is very important for the municipality and our own revenues“, the Mayor Eng. Nayden Naydenov told BTA.
According to him, if revenues from the cave enter the municipal budget, there will be funds for small repairs and reconstructions in the villages. „We are thirsty" for projects, but we need money for them. If we have our own funds, we will not go begging for every leva to ministries“, Naydenov noted.
According to him, he has spoken about the case with eight ministers over the years. “The motive is always that a Law on Caves is being prepared, but for 10 years this Law on Caves has not seen the light of day. How it will be shaped, whether it will be in the interest of the municipalities, whether it will benefit the state or it will be 50:50, no one knows, but we cannot wait. We maintain the infrastructure to Saeva Dupka, and the Municipality does not earn a penny“, Naydenov said.
Naydenov also said that if the Municipality acquires ownership of the cave, it and the area around it will be improved, so that it becomes an even more attractive tourist destination.
The Saeva Dupka Cave – landmark of millions of years
The Saeva Dupka cave is one of the most beautiful and well-studied caves in Bulgaria, located in the Pre-Balkans, near the village of Brestnitsa. It was declared a natural landmark in 1962 and is included in the list of the Hundred National Tourist Sites.
Its name comes from the two shepherd brothers – Sayu and Stoyo, who are considered its discoverers in the 19th century. The cave was formed in limestone rocks from the Upper Cretaceous as a result of a prolonged karst-forming process that lasted millions of years.
The total length of the mapped galleries is about 400 meters, of which about 200 meters are accessible to tourists. The temperature inside is constant – between 7 and 10°C, and the air humidity reaches almost 98%.
Saeva Dupka is known for its exceptional richness and variety of secondary karst forms - stalactites, stalagmites, stalactones, draperies, sinter ponds and cave pearls, created by water seeping through the rocks.
Although the cave has been known to locals for a long time, the first studies began at the end of the 19th century. Active research has been conducted by prominent Bulgarian scientists and speleologists. In 1967, the cave was electrified and developed, opening its doors to mass tourism.
Archaeological finds, including animal remains and traces of human presence from the Paleolithic, testify to its importance as a refuge and habitat during various historical eras.
As a significant natural and tourist site, Saeva Dupka offers a unique opportunity to observe underground karst formations. It is home to colonies of bats, which are a protected species. The cave attracts thousands of visitors annually, contributing to the development of ecotourism and the enhancement of ecological culture.
The cave consists of five main halls (chambers) - Kupena (Concert Hall), Srutistheto, Harmanot, Kosmos, White Castle. They have a rich palette of shapes, along with other landmarks such as the "Roman Baths", which makes Saevata Dupka one of the most impressive underground worlds in Bulgaria.
Source: dariknews.bg