Magura Cave — Attraction in Belogradchik

Archaeology, history & nature in Bulgaria & beyond: the Human – Earth connection!

Magura Cave – Rabisha, Bulgaria

The Magura Cave featuring prehistoric paintings from the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic (Aeneolithic, Copper Age) and Early Bronze Ageis located near the town of Rabisha, Belogradchik Municipality, Vidin District, in Northwest Bulgaria.

The combined length of its corridors is 2.5 km; the cave has a permanent year-round temperature of 12 degrees Celsius (except for one warmer chamber where the temperature is 15 degrees).

The 15-million-year-old Magura Cave is a famous archaeological and paleontological site. Inside it, researchers have found bones from cave bears, cave hyenas, foxes, wolves, wild cats, otters, and other prehistoricanimals.

The MaguraCave is home to 8 species of bats, all of whom are under protection. It was granted the status of a natural park in 1960. It is located close to the largest non-draining lake in Bulgaria, the Rabisha Lake.

In 1984, the Magura Lake was put on UNESCO’s Tentative List for consideration as a World Heritage Site.

The largest chamber in the cave is the Arc Hall,which is 128 meters long, 58 meters wide and 21 meters tall.

The oldest prehistoric paintings in the cave date to the Late Paleolithic period (Epipaleolithic) – about 8,000 – 6,000 BC; the latest are from the Bronze Age, and date to the period between 3,000 BC and 1,200 BC.

The more than 750 paintings depict primarily hunting scenes, religious ceremonies such as fertility dances, and deities. These include anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, geometric, and symbolic images. The drawings were painted with bat guano.

The most popular image from the Magura Cave is from the Cult Hall and depicts a large dance and hunting scene in two rows.

Because of a drawing showing the local mushroom Boletus, which has hallucinogenic effects, there have been interpretations that the paintings depict aliens.

Another group of the Magura Cave drawings from the Late Neolithic is seen as a highly accurate solar calendar calculating 366 days and a year of 12 months.

Before 1993, the Magura Cave had open access, and some of the drawings were vandalized by treasure hunters.

Together with the nearby Rabisha Lake, the Belogradchik Rocks, and the Belogradchik Fortress, the Magura Cave has emerged as one of the most popular destinations for cultural tourism in...

I wholeheartedly recommend it. The most impressive cave I had the opportunity to be in. Both the size of the cave and the forms present are awe-inspiring. Although it is no longer possible to see the wall paintings (the exhibition has been turned off), it is still worth deciding to enter because the enormity of this natural creation will make up for the cost. The cost of the ticket is 12 Bulgarian leva (price in April 2024), and the tour takes about an hour. Entries only at full hours like 12, 1pm. etc. The entrance and exit are not in the same place, so after the tour you have to return to the parking near the entrance, but if someone is not willing to walk extra(about 15 min), it is possible to be transported by let say "railway" for an additional fee (I think 3 leva, but I am not sure because I chose to walk). One downside is that the guide giving the tour speaks rather only Bulgarian, so unfortunately people who don't speak that language have to settle for descriptions from the English-language leaflet. I think it's a great loss because watching local tourists discussing with the guide, asking her questions and finding out a lot of details, however, one has the unsatisfactory feeling that we missed something. Nevertheless, at the very parking lot below the cave, you can make up a lot by getting into conversation with the gentleman running the little place there, where you can drink coffee, refreshing drinks, or buy a bottle (or preferably several right away) of local wine and a souvenir magnet, as well as use the restroom. The gentleman knows many details about the cave itself, as well as local history. It was thanks to him that we finally decided to enter the cave, even though the frescoes are no longer accessible, and after the tour I returned to thank him because, as I wrote above - it's worth it. I encourage everyone both to visit the cave and to buy at least a cup of coffee, a bottle of wine or a magnet from the Man and exchange a few...

This is one of the famous cave in Bulgaria. But a rate it with only 3 stars because of the management of the object. First they accept visitors as much as can buy a ticket. So if at 12 o'clock arrived 200 people with purchased tickets they will allow them to enter. In our case we were around 70-80 people. Second, for this big group of people there was only one guide. Please imagine if you are treasure hunter or vandal what you can steal from the cave, stalagmites, stalactites you can draw your family tree as well. Third. The guide was arrogant and incompetent. He was wearing a sport suit and the true it suited him well because he spoke like a sport commentator. Several times the people asked him something but he didn't answer. The people queue was so long and the last didn't hear anything. Fourth. The most important hall of the cave, this with the prehistoric paintings was closed. As they said for two years because of the human vandalism. But with this managing of the visitors group is pretty normal to happen. No every human being counts this art as something special and valuable and it should be guarded better. Not with one guide which comes out first from the cave and even didn't checked if someone is lost. The didn't count the visitors neither at the entrance nor at the exit. Fifth. In the whole route in the cave there is no even one descriptive plate or sign to facilitate the tourist. With this guide this is absolutely necessary. It is a pity that this precious object relies on its old glory and doesn't think of its better management. For two years the didn't make anything to open the hall with the paintings. At least the have to think about a reproduction of the paintings where the tourists can see them. Like the Thracian tomb in Kazanlak. But the cave and the Lake of Rabisha located nearby is must see object...