Located
\nin Parang Mountains, on the border between the counties of Gorj and Valcea, the
\nPolovragi Cave is a well-known tourist attraction, also thanks to the
\npicturesque landscapes surrounding it. Not far from it there stands the
\nPolovragi Monastery, probably built there in recognition of the cave’s
\ntraditional role of sheltering hermits. Going back to the Copper Age, the cave
\nhas along the centuries been a refuge for both people and animals. Its total
\nlength is not known yet, but the section that can be visited by tourists is
\napproximately 600 m long. Both the
\ninside and the area surrounding the cave are attractive to tourists, as guide
\nFelicia Bantea told us:<\/p>\n
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First
\nof all, those who want to reach the cave have to cross the Oltet Gorges. They
\nare very narrow and steep, and the landscape around them looks very wild. The
\ntwo slopes of the Parang and Capatanii Mountains are very close to one another,
\nand the Oltet River flows right between them. The cave has not been changed,
\nexcept for the modern lighting system that was installed in the section that
\ncan be visited by tourists. The system provides only cold light, in order not
\nto bother the bats that live there and to prevent vegetation from growing on
\nthe limestone on the cave’s walls. In order to visit the cave, people can walk
\non a sandy trail, along the old bed of Oltet River, which carved the cave.<\/p>\n
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Although
\ncarved in limestone, the Polovragi Cave does not have the typical columns that
\nusually render such caves particularly impressive. The ceiling in the area that
\ncan be visited is very high, therefore columns cannot form there. However, the
\nPolovragi Cave has its own attractions, as Felicia Bantea told us: <\/p>\n
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All
\nthe stalagmites, domes and other formations have a long history. For instance,
\nthere are many legends about the supreme god of our Dacian ancestors, Zamolxis,
\nand there is a karstic formation in this cave called ‘The Throne of Zamolxis’.
\nAlso, there are some very old charcoal drawings, which are still visible on the
\ncave’s walls, probably made by the hermits who used to live at the Polovragi
\nMonastery, which is one kilometre away from the cave. Also, there is a colony of
\nsome 1,000 bats here. The water here is very rich in iron. ‘Red water’
\nliterally oozes from the ceiling, that’s why the place is known as the
\n‘Bleeding vault’, and right underneath there is a pool whose water never leaks,
\nalso because the iron has formed a water-tight crust. The pool is called the
\nSpring of Hopes, and it helps blood coagulate, in case of minor injuries. There
\nare also other ‘therapeutic’ sites in Polovragi Cave.<\/p>\n
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Also in Gorj County, close to the small town of
\nBaia de Fier, tourists can visit Pestera Muierilor, the Romanian for the
\nWomen’s Cave. It was formed by Galbenu river, which flows inside the cave to
\nthis day. The name of the cave dates as far back as the Middle Ages, when women
\nwould gather in an entrance hall, where they would spin hemp and flax. Slightly
\nmore than 900 meters in length, the Women’s’ Cave can be visited in its
\nentirety, unlike the Polovragi Cave. Felicia
\nBantea explains: <\/p>\n
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This is the
\nfirst cave in Romania especially arranged for tourist purposes, and that is why
\nit is probably the best-known in the country. It was opened to tourists in the
\n1960s. The Galbenu Gorges being quite broad, there was room enough for a road
\nto be built, so access by coach is quite easy. Because the entrance ways to the
\nWomen’s Cave are more accessible, at ground level, bears could also get there
\nin the old days. Hundreds of complete Ursus Peleus skeletons were found there, which is not the
\ncase with the Polovragi Cave. An Ursus Peleus skeleton is being exhibited here.
\nThis species lived until 15,000-20,000
\nyears ago, and was a bigger size than today’s bear. Cave bears and the cave men
\nlived somewhat during the same time. Skeletons of other pre-historic animals
\nwere also found here, mostly of the animals bears would feed on at that time.<\/p>\n
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Yet the main attraction of the Women’s Cave are its
\nspectacular karstic formations. One of them is known as The Organ, because it
\nresembles the musical instrument. There is also the Altar Hall, where the
\n18-meter high ceiling is shaped like a church dome. Another chalk formation is
\nknown as The Pulpit, while another unusual shape is called The Big Chandelier.
\nHere as well, the iron oxide in the water has coloured the walls and the
\nceiling.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Polovragi Cave and the Women’s Cave are two of the most interesting destinations in Gorj County.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":168122,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45210],"tags":[37386,45282,45281],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-168121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rri-encyclopaedia","tag-gorj","tag-pestera-muierilor","tag-polovragi"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n