If you want to experience some of the most beautiful caves in Croatia, visit Karlovac County, which is also the cradle of Croatian speleotourism. Barać's caves next to Nova Kršlja near Rakovice, famous for beautiful calcite ornaments, are the first caves in Croatia that had been opened for tourists back in 1892. People used to visit them in coaches on their way to Plitvička jezera (Plitvice Lakes).
Upper Barać's cave has been rearranged in 2004 and the first Croatian speleological centre had been opened there. 520 meters of cave may be explored, which had been proclaimed a geomorphologic nature monument due to its beauty, accompanied by an interesting story of speleo-guide on the structure, origin and history of cave exploring. This is the first cave in Croatia which may be viewed under ecological lighting that does not harm the micro-climate and ecosystem in the cave.
South-western parts of Karlovac County are the area of shallow Dinara limescale karst with hundreds of pits and caves, but also complete systems of underground cavities. Four of five longest cave systems in Croatia are located here and Đulin ponor- Medvedica near Ogulin is in the forefront with more than 16 kilometres of explored channels. Numerous caves hide clear lakes and brooks, but also a special fauna; some of them are inhabited by olms.
Prehistoric objects from Stone Age (Barać's caves) and Early Bronze Age (Đutno near Bosiljevo) had been found in several caves. Speleologists of Karlovac found a cave necropolis in 2000, which is unique in Europe. Numerous caves had been used as shelters for centuries; those in cliffs of deep valleys of Korana and Mrežnica are a true challenge to tourists with adventurous spirit.
Vrlovka next to Kamanja, whose entrance is located next to Kupa, is one of such sheltering caves. It had been opened to tourists in 1928 and 330 meters of channels may be explored. Some of unprepared and less accessible caves are gaining popularity among speleotourists and they may be visited in company of experienced speleologists. Among those are Vražića pećina (Devil's Cave) in Barilović, Gvozdenica at Skradska gora, and Vodena jama (Water Pit) near Siča. Matešić's Cave next to Slunj is a special cave with two entrances; after passing through karst underground, the exit is located directly at pass of Korana.
