Devetashka Cave
Address: Devetaki Village, near Lovech, Veliko Tarnovo Region
Latitude / Longitude: 43.236158, 24.895392
Tip: Devetashka Cave is closed for visits during the bats’ breeding season between 1 June and 31 July
The Devetashka cave is an enormous picturesque cave with 2 galleries, 11 lakes and 14 springs. You can see beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, rivulets, majestic natural domes and arches.
There is no security and no entrance fees (for now). However, there is no public transport connection and no direct access by car (and there shouldn’t be), so you will have to park just after the bridge of the Devetaki village, which is about 85 km from Veliko Tarnovo and 20 km from Lovech.
Once you have parked your car, follow the signs and walk down the trail for about 1 km. You will then reach the entrance of the Devetashka Cave, one of the biggest caves in Bulgaria and the home of more than 30 000 bats. Make sure you wear the appropriate shoes and clothes.
Fair warning, not all the spots in the Devetashka Cave can be accessed by regular tourists, some require special expertise alongside caving and sailing equipment.
Should you decide to stay overnight before or after your visit, the area offers some good options of small family-run B&Bs along the Osam river. Alternatively, you can check in a hotel in Lovech, which is the closest (20 km) bigger town nearby and provides more sights and attractions and a bigger choice of dining options.
