# Bat Cave at Moieciu

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Transylvania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/transilvania) › [Brașov County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/brasov) › [Peștera](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/locality/pestera)

> A natural cave 162 m long in the village of Peștera, Moieciu commune: a natural monument with bat colonies and traces of Palaeolithic occupation, a few minutes' walk from the village.

**At a glance:** Caves in Peștera, Brașov County. Opening hours: daily open 24 hours. The visit takes 45 min. Information verified on 31 October 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** daily open 24 hours — Free access, with no gate and no opening hours. From November to March the bats hibernate and the cave is not visited; after heavy rain the main gallery can flood.
- **Visit duration:** 45 min — including the walk from the village
- **With kids:** Yes — torch, boots, clay
- **Best season:** April – October — bats hibernate in winter
- **Address:** On the slope north-west of the village, ~10 minutes on foot, Peștera, Brașov County
- **Coordinates:** 45.50762, 25.29245
- **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pe%C8%99tera_Liliecilor_(Ruc%C4%83r-Bran)
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12737952
- **Categories:** [Caves](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/caves), [National parks and reserves](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/national-parks-and-reserves), [Monuments and historic sites](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/monuments-and-historic-sites)

## About Bat Cave at Moieciu

The Bat Cave at Moieciu (Peștera Liliecilor), also known as Peștera Mare or Peștera Badichii, opens in the Jurassic limestone on the north-western edge of the village of Peștera, in Moieciu commune, at about 950 m above sea level, on the Bran plateau in the [Rucăr–Bran Pass](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/culoarul-rucar-bran). The village is named after it: locals sheltered in the cave in hard times. The cave is a natural monument and lies in the buffer zone of [Piatra Craiului National Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/parcul-national-piatra-craiului).

The cave is 162 m long, with a main gallery and a few short side branches, and is home to colonies of several bat species, which give it its name. Archaeological digs in 1957–1958, led by C. S. Nicolăescu-Plopșor, found three Palaeolithic occupation levels in the main gallery (Mousterian, Aurignacian and Gravettian), and research in 2009 turned up flint and jasper tools and traces of hearths.

### What you can see

The mouth of the cave in the limestone slope above the village, and the main gallery, which you enter without steps, walkways or lighting. The floor is clay, with a layer of guano left by the bats, and the walls and ceilings show limestone formations and different shades of colour. The bats hang alone or in groups from the ceiling and in niches. In the same day you can see [Bran Castle](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/castelul-bran), ~9 km away, [Dâmbovicioara Cave](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/pestera-dambovicioara), ~25 km away, and [Râșnoavei Cave](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/pestera-rasnoavei), near Râșnov.

### Good to know

The cave is not fitted out and has no gate: you need a torch, boots and clothes that can get dirty with clay and guano. After wet spells water can flood the main gallery. The bats are protected and must not be disturbed; in winter, while they hibernate, the cave is not visited.

## Don't miss

- The mouth of the cave, in the limestone slope on the north-western edge of the village of Peștera.
- The main gallery, 162 m long, with a clay floor and short side branches, explored by torchlight only.
- The bats of the colonies, hanging from the ceiling or huddled in niches, to be watched from a distance.
- The site of the 1957–1958 and 2009 digs, which found Palaeolithic occupation levels and traces of hearths.
- The village of Peștera, at ~1,050 m, which takes its name from the cave.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**On foot:** a short path of about 10 minutes leads from the village of Peștera to the cave entrance.

**By car:** from the DN73 in Moieciu de Jos, a road climbs to the village of Peștera (~7 km, ~12 minutes). It is ~9 km (~15 minutes) from Bran, ~40 km (~50 minutes) from Brașov via Râșnov and Bran, and ~195 km (~3 hours 10 minutes) from Bucharest, on the DN1 to Predeal and then via Râșnov.

**Public transport:** buses from Brașov's Autogara 2 run to Bran and Moieciu; from Moieciu de Jos it is a ~7 km climb by road to the village of Peștera.

### Where to park

Leave the car in the village of Peștera and continue on foot along the path to the cave.

### Rules

Entry is free, without a guide. Bring a torch (ideally a spare too), boots and old clothes; a helmet is useful. Do not shine lights straight at the bats or touch them, keep your voice down and do not go in during winter, the hibernation period. The cave is a protected area: do not break the formations and do not leave rubbish.

### Facilities

Undeveloped cave, no lighting, walkways or signs · no facilities at the entrance · accommodation and food in the village of Peștera and in Moieciu · route not accessible with a pushchair or wheelchair

## Details

- **Protected area type:** natural monument
- **Total length:** 162 m
- **Altitude:** 950 m
- **Developed and lit:** No
- **Guided visits only:** No
- **Historical period:** Palaeolithic

## Frequently asked questions about Bat Cave at Moieciu

**What are the opening hours of Bat Cave at Moieciu?**

Opening hours at Bat Cave at Moieciu: daily open 24 hours. More under “Opening hours”.

**How long does a visit to Bat Cave at Moieciu take?**

A visit to Bat Cave at Moieciu takes about 45 min (including the walk from the village).

**Can you visit Bat Cave at Moieciu with kids?**

Yes, Bat Cave at Moieciu is suitable for children (torch, boots, clay).

**How do I get to Bat Cave at Moieciu?**

Bat Cave at Moieciu is located at On the slope north-west of the village, ~10 minutes on foot, Peștera, Brașov County. More under “Getting there”.

**When is the best time to visit Bat Cave at Moieciu?**

The best season for Bat Cave at Moieciu: April – October (bats hibernate in winter).

## Nearby attractions

- [Zărnești Gorge (Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/zarnesti-gorge) — Gorges and canyons · Zărnești, BV · 10 lei · 2 – 2½ hours · 3 km
  A dry limestone gorge in Piatra Craiului National Park, with vertical walls and layers of Jurassic limestone, walked on an easy forest road that also suits children.
- [Bran Castle](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/bran-castle) — Castles and palaces · Bran, BV · 120 lei · 1 – 1½ hours · Top 20 · 8 km
  A medieval fortress built by the people of Brașov on a rock in the Bran Pass, later Queen Marie's summer residence and known around the world as “Dracula's Castle”.
- [Cheile Grădiștei Fundata Ski Area](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cheile-gradistei-fundata-ski-area) — Ski slopes · Fundata, BV · 70 lei · 3½ – 4 hours · 8 km
  A mountain sports complex at 1,300 m in Fundata, with three slopes for beginners and intermediates (two at Fundata, one towards Moieciu), drag lifts, tubing and a biathlon arena; in summer, an alpine coaster and an adventure park.
- [Piatra Craiului National Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piatra-craiului-national-park) — National parks and reserves · Zărnești, BV · 10 lei · 4½ – 5 hours · 9 km
  Romania's longest and highest limestone ridge, 25 km long, with La Om Peak at 2,238 m, the Zărnești Gorge, Curmătura Chalet and trails for every level.
- [Zănoaga Ski Slope (Brava Park)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/zanoaga-ski-slope) — Ski slopes · Bran, BV · 3½ – 4 hours · 10 km
  The ski area on the edge of Bran, known as Zănoaga and now open as Brava Park: three slopes with drag lifts, a sledging and tubing lane, and a bike park in summer.
- [Rucăr–Bran Pass](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/rucar-bran-pass) — Scenic roads · Brașov County · Free · 1 – 1½ hours · 10 km
  The pass between Piatra Craiului and the Bucegi: the DN73 climbs from Rucăr onto the Fundata plateau, over the Giuvala Pass at about 1,260 m, and descends to Bran past hamlets scattered on the ridges.

## Featured in the guides

- [Caves in Romania: the ones you can visit, by area, with a map](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/caves-in-romania) — 37 caves in Romania you can visit, by area: Bears' Cave, Scărișoara, Women's Cave, Ialomița, Polovragi. What is open now, tickets, map, what to bring.
- [The largest cave in Romania and the other records: the longest, the deepest, the oldest show cave](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/largest-cave-in-romania) — Longest: Wind Cave, over 42 km. Deepest: Avenul de sub Vârful Grind, −815 m. Largest halls: Humpleu. Plus the oldest show cave and the ice cave record.
- [The nearest cave to Bucharest, Brașov, Cluj, Sibiu, Oradea and Timișoara: distances for a day trip](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/nearest-cave-to-bucharest-brasov-cluj) — Ialomița Cave is 160 km from Bucharest, Valea Cetății 18 km from Brașov, Vadu Crișului 55 km from Oradea, Românești 100 km from Timișoara. Distances, times.

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Other languages: Română: https://peplaiuri.ro/pestera-liliecilor-moieciu.md · Deutsch: https://peplaiuri.ro/de/fledermaushoehle-bei-moieciu.md · Italiano: https://peplaiuri.ro/it/grotta-dei-pipistrelli-di-moieciu.md · Français: https://peplaiuri.ro/fr/grotte-des-chauves-souris-de-moieciu.md · Español: https://peplaiuri.ro/es/cueva-de-los-murcielagos-de-moieciu.md · Magyar: https://peplaiuri.ro/hu/alsomoecsi-denever-barlang.md
Last updated: 31 October 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania