Experienced tourists who have traveled the length and breadth of Ukraine may think they have already seen it all. But there is still a wealth of experiences to be found underneath – in the country’s many caves. The Kyiv Post has descended underground to look at Ukraine’s hidden scenery in five caves, each of which have their own peculiarities, beautiful interiors and interesting histories.
Molochny Kamin (Milk Stone Cave)
The Molochny Kamin cave is hidden inside a limestone cliff in the spacious Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. The cave got its name from its dazzling white interior – white lime mortar slowly seeps down from the top of the cave, giving its interior surfaces a milky hue.
The huge stalactites, resembling giant pipes, that grow near the cave’s entrance are strikingly beautiful even for experienced cavers. The two-story high Molochny Kamin cave is 92 meters long and contains several spacious galleries. In one of its galleries, archaeologists found the remains of camp of an ancient people from the late Paleolithic period.
How to get there: Molochny Kamin cave is located in Zakarpattya Oblast within the Uholsko-Shyrokoluzhansky reserve area. To get there from Lviv, take a bus to Tyachiv for Hr 147. From Tyachiv take a bus to Velyka Uholka for Hr 24. Travelling by car from Lviv, take the E471, T0718, and T0720 roads to Velyka Uholka.
Antoniyevi Pechery (St. Antony’s Caves)
These man-made caves located in the Boldyni Hory hills in the southern quarter of the city of Chernihiv are both a Christian sacred site and a remarkable example of underground architecture. Their history dates back to the 11th century, when Saint Antony, the founder of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, dug out the first cave on the slopes of a ravine and established an underground orthodox monastery that consisted of a large number of galleries and buildings.
Today, the two-story high cave complex consists of seven caverns with underground churches, chapels, cells, and a crypt. The caves stretch underground for a length of nearly 350 meters. The temperature in the caves is a steady 10 -12 degrees Celsius, while their humidity reaches 100 percent all year round.
How to get there: From Kyiv take a bus to Chernihiv for Hr 112 – 217. If travelling by car take the E95 highway from Kyiv to Chernihiv. The caves, near the Trinity Monastery on Tolstoho Street, are open daily from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. The entrance fee is Hr 5 – 20.
Kryshtaleva (Crystal Cave)
The Kryshtaleva cave was formed more than 20 million years ago from ancient subterranean lakes. It consists of dozens of galleries. The cave’s walls are covered with gypsum rock that the ages have etched into fantastic reliefs. Each of Kryshtaleva’s caverns features bright crystal stalactites. The full tourist route is 23 kilometers long, but the cave is almost dry and easy to move through. A trip to the Kryshtaleva cave starts at the “Entrance corridor” tavern, which has crystal figurines on its walls that look like fern leaves. Then tourists visit the “Zoological” gallery, which has bizarre gypsum excrescences that resemble various animals. The “Komyn” (Chimney) cavern is covered with crystals colored white, pink, cream, amber and yellow.
How to get there: The cave is located in the village of Kryvche in Ternopil Oblast. Take a bus from Ternopil to Kryvche for Hr 69. If travelling by car, take the E50 and then the T2002 roads from Ternopil to Kryvche. Guided tours are available from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The entrance fee is Hr 15-20.
Optymistychna (Optimistic Cave)
This gypsum cave is the longest cave in Eurasia and the second longest (after the Mammoth cave in the United States) in the world. The cave’s total area is still unknown, but speleologists estimate that the total length of Optymistychna’s passages is more than 240 kilometers.
The cave is horizontal and consists of 10 isolated sections interconnected with single passages, or several labyrinthine networks of passages.
In some places the cave is difficult to traverse, but it is definitely worth the effort – Optymistychna offers an incredible combination of underground lakes, stalactites and stalagmites that give the impression of finding oneself in a fairyland. It can take several days to explore the cave’s many passages and galleries.
How to get there: Optymistychna cave is located near Korolivka village in Ternopil Oblast. To get there, take a bus from Ternopil to Korolivka village for Hr 63. The two last kilometers to the caves, west of Kolorivka, have to be travelled by foot. If travelling by car, take the E50 and then the T2002, turn onto the T24 to Borschiv, and then take the T2018 to Korolivka.
Visitors can explore the cave on their own, or take a guided tour. Prices of guided tours start from Hr 500.
Popelyushka (Cinderella Cave)
This is one of Ukraine’s biggest and most mysterious caves, and in fact the cave system stretches underground from Moldova into Ukraine. The main entrance is located in Moldova, near the village of Criva, while the main part of the 90-kilometer cave system is located under Ukrainian territory.
The inside of the cave has huge, impressive caverns, picturesque underground lakes and long labyrinths of winding passageways. Its biggest explored gallery is 172 meters long and 60 meters wide. Some of Popelyushka’s galleries feature crystal ceilings and stalactites that look like thorns.
Still, despite its beauty, it is not recommended to visit Popelyushka without a guide. There are no marked routes and the regular carbon dioxide emissions from the surrounding limestone rock make it dangerous for the inexperienced caver.
Those who want to visit Popelyushka with a tour guide can join the open Facebook group Speleo.md. For more detailed information about visiting the cave go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/speleo.md/
How to get there: The Popelyushka cave is located near the village of Podvirne in Chernivtsi Oblast. Take the Khmelnytsky-Chisinau bus to Podvirne village for Hr 146. The main entrance to the cave is just across the border, in the village of Criva in Moldova. If travelling by car, take the H10 road from Chernivtsi to Podvirne.
