Grgos Cave Unveils New Jewels

New halls have recently been unveiled in Grgos Cave in the vicinity of Samobor. The cave has been proclaimed a protected geomorphologic monument of nature and the newly unveiled halls will certainly inspire an even greater number of visitors and nature lovers to explore the cave’s wealth of ornaments.

Two new halls have recently been unveiled and made amenable to visitors in Grgos Cave, one of the most beautiful natural attractions of Samobor. Grgos Cave is located five kilometers from Samobor and is considered one of the most beautiful caves in northwestern Croatia. The cave is unassuming in size and until recently only two small halls that are rich in cave ornaments have been accessible to visitors. Still, it has been proclaimed a protected geomorphologic monument of nature. The cave was named after Josip Grgos who discovered it in 1973.
 
Due to the special natural charms of the hilly landscape, Samobor and its surroundings are considered the cradle of the Croatian mountaineering movement. The hills extend to the eastern part of Žumberak and include Plešivica and its 780-meter-high peak, Japetić at an altitude of 880 meters and Oštrec with its peak at 753 meters. The hills hide numerous sink-holes, caves and precipices, and the whole area is abundantly covered with vegetation. The very rich flora includes many rare plants such as butterwort species (pinguicula vulgaris and pinguicula alpine), gorse (ulex europaeus) and English holly (ilex aquifolium). The first mountain climbing expedition to Oštrec and Plešivica was organized in 1875. Since then, Samobor has earned the title of the cradle of Croatian mountain climbing and has become a favorite excursion place for Zagreb’s citizens. There are a number of marked mountain paths around Samobor and excursionists can find accommodation and refreshment in the many mountain lodges which are open all year round. In addition to mountaineers, Japetić and Plešivica are also favorite spots for paragliders and hang gliders who organize their annual competitions in Samoborsko Gorje.