Ledenika Cave

Ledenika Cave lies about 16 km from Vratsa in the north-western Balkan Mountains; its entrance is at an altitude of around 830 m. The cave is roughly 300 m long and has ten halls. The largest, the "Great Temple", has a ceiling about 15 m high. The limestone formations are dated to the Pliocene. The name means roughly "icy" and is thought to come from icicles in winter.

Discovered at the start of the 20th century, the cave has been open to visitors since 1961; in the late 1980s it received around 100,000 visitors in peak years. Allow one to two hours for the visit and the walk from the car park. Caves are usually cool, so bring a jacket and non-slip shoes. Expect more visitors during the summer holidays and at weekends; on weekdays or in the morning it is usually quieter.