Grotta Baredine cave

Grotta Baredine is one of the most beautiful pit caves in Croatia. It lies in Istria between Novigrad and Poreč.

We are not fond of “over-touristed” places and we have genuinely seen our fill of caves by now, so at first we were rather sceptical that this one could impress us. But as we went down into it, step by step, our doubts grew fainter and fainter. Somewhere around halfway they vanished altogether and were replaced by genuine delight!

Below we set out a few of the assets that lift this relatively small cave above the average.

The olm

At school we were once taught that the olm (čovječja ribica) is an endemic species, mentioned in textbooks mostly in connection with Postojna Cave. We later learned that it is a relatively common inhabitant of karst caves from northern Italy, through Slovenia and Croatia, all the way to Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have not had many chances to see one in the flesh, so we were pleasantly surprised to meet one in Grotta Baredine! Seeing this creature for real, perfectly adapted to cave life and to conditions of total darkness, really is an experience.

The cave lake

Cave lakes always delight us, but the one in Grotta Baredine has an added air of mystery. The stone columns rising out of it give it an extra dimension. Paddling a kayak between them would surely be something special!

“Glowing” crystals

During the guided tour our guide stopped us beside a cluster of crystals which, when you shine a light on them, create a magical effect! We had not tried that in any cave before.

The “pršut”

We are lovers of pršut (dry-cured ham), even the “petrified” kind. In its playfulness, nature really never stops surprising you with its childlike imagination!

Key facts about the cave

• total depth of the cave including the lakes: 132 m
• depth of the section open to visitors: 60 m
• total length of the route through the cave: 300 m
• number of chambers: 5
• air temperature: 14 °C
• groundwater temperature: 13.2 °C
• duration of the tour – about 50 min

Conclusion

Grotta Baredine will leave nobody unmoved. It is not for those who dislike steps, because there are plenty of them and you are going down the whole time. But the cave has so much to offer that in the end you do not even notice them.
The cave is relatively short, but full of surprises! Our guide was excellent. The German translation was first rate.

The grounds above the cave are packed with facilities. Some will count that a plus. We personally prefer a wilder setting, but we understand that places like this have to exist too. Besides the spacious car park and the basic infrastructure, in the wider area around the entrance you will find places to eat and drink, an “eco” park with animals, and a tractor museum.

Do check the cave’s opening hours before planning your visit: https://baredine.com/posjetite-nas/radno-vrijeme/