The cave provides a critical maternity roost for bat colonies, necessitating restricted access during their breeding season.
Archaeological layers at the site contain artifacts from the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze, and Iron ages, as well as the Roman period.
The seven large karst windows are known locally as 'oknata', meaning 'the eyes'.
During the Cold War, the Bulgarian military converted the cave into a massive oil depot, leaving behind concrete pipelines and support structures.
The cavern's entrance is 35 meters wide and 30 meters high, leading into an immense internal hall that spans over 2,400 square meters.
Devetashka Cave is a massive karst cavern characterized by seven natural ceiling openings that allow sunlight to illuminate the cavern floor. The cave system spans approximately 2,442 meters in length and reaches a height of up to 100 meters at its central dome. It serves as a significant habitat for over 30,000 bats representing 15 distinct species. Archaeological excavations have identified continuous human habitation dating back to the Paleolithic era. The cave floor contains an underground river and several smaller spring-fed pools. The structure was utilized as a secret fuel storage facility during the socialist era, which resulted in the installation of concrete infrastructure that remains visible today. The site is located on the Devetaki Plateau near the Osam River. It gained international recognition as a filming location for the 2012 movie The Expendables 2.
From the center of the main hall looking upward toward the largest karst skylight.
Wear sturdy, non-slip footwear as the ground inside is often damp and uneven.
Bring a light jacket as temperatures inside the cavern remain significantly lower than the outside air regardless of the season.
Check for seasonal closure notices regarding bat breeding months before planning your trip.
Do not attempt to climb the internal rock formations or enter areas blocked by safety fencing.
Closed annually from June to July to protect the bat maternity season.
Maintain a quiet volume to avoid disturbing the resident bat colonies and strictly adhere to cordoned-off areas.
