It is located in
the Central Velebit inland forehills area, on the eastern
slopes of Mt Grabovaca (772m), 2 1/2 km west of the town
Perusic.
Mountain itself is squeezed betven Lika
river on the west and the Perusic karst field (Perusicko
polje) on the east side.
Cave is a single passage,
233m long and 54m deep. The path from the entrance is
leading down through four large halls, bypassing various
calcite forms; stalactites, stalagmites, icicle-form pillars
and 2 sinter bridges were the path leads through massive
formations of flowstone, so visitors walk under a bridge of
sinter.
The cave entrance is located at 675m above
sea level, in the elliptical karst sinkhole (vrtaca) formed by
the collapse of a part of the cave. The descent into the cave
is down the concrete stairs, the advancement through the cave
goes along stone stairs and pathways.
As there is no
other exit, one has to go back via the same route.
Datasheet:
cave
length: 233m / 764ft
cave depth: 54m / 177ft
tour
length: 466m / 1529ft
duration: 40 min
height
difference 83m / 272ft 470 steps
light:
electric by diesel aggregate
temperature: 8 °C / 46
ºF
Gear required: clothing
adequate for 1/2 hour inside the cave at sub 10 °C, rubber
sole (its slippery inside), headtorch is an useful asset.
History
graffiti from 1835.
In the interior of the cave fragments of ceramic containers and human bones were found
dating from the late Bronze Age,
as well as the Iron Age (from the 12th century to the 1st century B.C.).
It was probably used as constant or occasional refuge.
Cave was first described by J. Fras, the school supervisor of Karlovac borderland in 1850.
A Board for the regulation of Samograd cave was founded in 1866
- considered to be the first speleological society in Croatia.
The pathways and stairs through Samograd were thoroughly arranged in 1903.
Around 1910 the first making of a geodetic draft began.
In 1911 first plan of the cave was published,
together with the first cadastre of 156 caves of Lika and Krbava County.
The cave itself was visited continually over centuries by the villagers.
Approx halfway through the cave, on a single stalagmite,
surnames of Austrian officers from the Gospic regiment are inscribed,
as well as the year of their visit - 1835.
Today this would be called graffitti vandalism,
but because of the age it is regarded archaeological and historic evidence.
Getting There
road map
Getting to Perusic trailhead:
by
car: state road D-50 between Otočac and Gospić, till the town
of Perušić A1 motorway Zagreb-Split, exit Perušić.
by coach: All coach lines between Gospic
and inlands stop at Perusic.
Cave Park is
located about 2,5 km / 1.55 miles from the Perušić centre.
To
reach it, drive or walk southwest, direction Lika river to the Kaniza
hamlet. From here it is a 20 minutes walk, by following the
single lane road to the west through a meadow first, then
through forest.
Red Tape
satellite view
Samograd is part of the Grabovaca Cave Park
(Pecinski park Grabovaca), a protected area of 1.5km².
Every
form of leaving traces in the cave, signatures, damages,
annihilation and removal of icicles, fossil or archaeological findings, is
strictly prohibited and legally sanctioned.
Beneath
Samograd cave there are five other caves there:
Medina Špilja (Bear's
Cave,length 63m),
Amidžina
Cave (length 60m)
Velika Kozarica (Large Goat
Pen, length 30m)
Mala Kozarica (Small Goat
Pen, length 12m) and Tabakuša (length 50m) and one hole - Slipica Jama
(Slipica Hole, depth 40m)
All of the caves are located on
the Mt. Grabovaca eastern slopes and relatively easy to visit,
most having some stairs and paths.
Slipica is a vertical hole and
entrance is by abseiling.
Visiting the caves is possible
during the spring, summer and autumn season.
Tours are made only by
appointment and with Cave Park guide.
The price of a ticket for
Samograd is 20 Croatian Kuna for children, students (up to
26y.o.), disabled persons and pensionists. Adults fare is 30 Kuna.
Contact: Cave
park Grabovača Trg Marka Mesića 2 Perušić
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