Peștera Urșilor

History

The cave was only discovered in 1975, when quarry workers dynamiting a limestone deposit accidentally broke into the underground system. Inside, speleologists found the remains of around 140 cave bears (Ursus spelaeus), a species that died out roughly 27,500 years ago, along with well-preserved bear tracks and dens — among the richest cave bear fossil deposits found anywhere in Europe. After five years of study by the Emil Racoviță Institute of Speleology, it opened to the public in 1980 and today draws more than 200,000 visitors a year through its three galleries and four halls.