Brestovská jaskyňa

Brestovská Cave is a fissure-and-river cave and national natural monument within the cadastre of the village of Zuberec, at an elevation of 867 metres above sea level. It ranks among the most significant caves in Orava and the Western Tatras, with an estimated length of about 1,450 metres.

The cave was formed by the erosive action of the Studený stream and the seepage of atmospheric water. This is precisely what makes it so valuable to science — an active underground watercourse flows through it, fed by several lakes and sumps. This makes Brestovská Cave important for research into the geomorphological development of the mountains and karst hydrography, i.e. how water behaves and shapes the underground.

People have known the cave since ancient times, and unfortunately part of its dripstone decoration was damaged over the centuries. It was declared a national natural monument in 1979, and its surroundings, covering more than 54 hectares, are also protected. The underground world with its river and lakes forms a unique natural phenomenon in this part of Orava, still surprising researchers and visitors alike today.

Brestovská Cave lies in a picturesque corner beneath the Roháče range, close to the village of Zuberec and the famous Museum of the Orava Village. It combines ideally with hikes into the Roháče and Western Tatras or with discovering Orava traditions — staying in accommodation around Zuberec puts the mountains, the underground world and cultural landmarks all comfortably within reach during a single stay.