ORLOVAČA CAVE REOPENS TO TOURISTS AFTER THREE-YEAR CLOSURE

The Orlovača Cave, a natural monument and one of the most remarkable speleological and tourist sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has officially reopened to visitors after three years of closure due to safety concerns.

PHOTO: SRNA

Located in the village of Sumbulovac near Pale, Orlovača Cave is now welcoming tourists Tuesday through Sunday at 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. With its rich geological formations, the cave stretches approximately 2.5 kilometers, while the tourist-accessible trail spans 565 meters.

Cave guide Nebojša Džakić described Orlovača as a “divine jewel,” noting its breathtaking stalagmites and stalactites intertwined with coral aragonite formations and columns resembling Renaissance castles and monuments in various colors and shapes. “This is a unique masterpiece shaped by the hand of nature,” he emphasized.

Džakić also warned visitors to prepare for the cave’s internal temperature, which remains a cool 9°C (48°F) year-round — a stark contrast to summer temperatures that can exceed 30°C outside.

Slavka Brezo, director of the Pale Cultural and Sports Center which manages the site, explained that the reopening followed extensive safety improvements. “We obtained all necessary construction permits, cleaned the research entrance, conducted air quality testing, renovated the fence at the viewing platform, and upgraded the cave’s lighting system,” Brezo said. Helmets and waiver forms are now mandatory for entry, ensuring visitors understand the cave is entered at their own risk.

With support from the municipality of Pale and the city of East Sarajevo, the access road to the site was also improved. Brezo expressed optimism that Orlovača will now operate at full capacity, deserving of its natural grandeur.

Ticket prices are set at 12 KM for individual visitors, 7 KM for groups, and 8 KM for tours booked through the East Sarajevo Tourist Organization.

Pale municipality head Dejan Kojić highlighted the cave’s historical importance, noting it was declared a natural monument in 2012 and opened to tourists in 2014. “Orlovača is a key asset for tourism development in the Sarajevo-Romanija region. It will attract tourists not only from Republika Srpska and Serbia but also from abroad,” Kojić said.

Boško Jugović, President of the Assembly of the City of East Sarajevo, echoed the sentiment, calling the cave a "distinctive gem" that should be part of a comprehensive tourism offer.

Branko Koroman, President of the Pale Municipal Assembly, stressed that tourism is one of the fundamental development sectors of both Pale and East Sarajevo, and Orlovača is a critical part of that.

Jelena Golijanin, associate professor of geography at the University of East Sarajevo, expressed satisfaction with the cave's reopening. She emphasized that geographers have long researched and promoted the cave's unique natural features. “Its rare formations, shaped by chemical and mechanical water action, make it one of the most beautiful caves in Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” she said.

Orlovača Cave is located along the Pale-Sokolac road. Visitors can reach the site via an asphalt road that leads to the entrance facility, which houses a souvenir shop and the Orlovača Museum.