Cioclovina Cave

About Cioclovina Cave

The Ponorici–Cioclovina karst complex lies in the Șureanu Mountains, south of the village of Cioclovina in Boșorod commune, and is a nature reserve within the Grădiștea Muncelului–Cioclovina Natural Park. The Ponorici stream sinks underground in the Ponorici meadows and comes back to daylight at Cioclovina, after a few kilometres through the mountain. The complex has two very different caves: Wet Cioclovina (Cioclovina cu Apă), crossed by the stream, and Dry Cioclovina (Cioclovina Uscată), a fossil cave.

Dry Cioclovina held a deposit of bat-guano phosphates estimated at over 50,000 m³, mined as fertiliser from 1912; about 30,000 m³ were removed in the first half of the 20th century. It was also here that ardealite, a mineral new to science, was described in 1931. In 1941 the miners found a human skull cap, along with stone tools and cave bear bones: the “Cioclovina 1” skull, described in 1942 by Francisc Rainer and Ion Th. Simionescu, is about 33,000 years old and among the oldest modern human remains in Romania.

Information verified on 31 October 2026.

Good to know before you go

Getting there

By car: from Călan, on the DJ668A via Boșorod to Luncani (~19 km), then on the DC57C local road for ~4.5 km and another ~1 km to the end of the forest road, where the Salvamont–Salvaspeo container stands; the last ~3 km are unpaved. From Călan it is ~25 km (~45 minutes), from Deva ~49 km (~1 h 15 min), on the DN7 and DN66 to Călan, from Hațeg ~40 km (~1 h) and from Orăștie ~42 km (~1 h), on the DJ705A and DJ705J. Towards the caves, follow the reserve boundary waymark, a red square with a white border. The Piatra Roșie Dacian Fortress is ~6 km away (~20 minutes), on the local roads near Luncani.

On foot: the red-triangle trail Grădiștea de Munte – Piatra Roșie Fortress – Cioclovina (~15 km) and the red-stripe trail Ohaba-Ponor – Ponorici – Valea Morii – Luncani – Boșorod (~25 km) both pass by the complex.

Public transport: the nearest railway station is Călan, on the Simeria–Petroșani line; from there, continue by car or taxi.

Where to park

At the end of the forest road, by the Salvamont–Salvaspeo container, there is room for at least 15 cars.

Fees & discounts

The caves have no entry ticket. Visiting the Grădiștea Muncelului–Cioclovina Natural Park costs 5 lei per person per day; it is paid to park staff on site, by SMS to 7473 (PNGMC1 = one person for one day, €1) or online. Local residents, among others, are exempt.

Rules

Entering the caves is forbidden outside the legal provisions and the park regulations. Caving requires the approval of the Grădiștea Muncelului–Cioclovina Natural Park Administration, requested in writing at least 10 days in advance, and a permit from the Speleological Heritage Commission; all caving is at the participants' own risk. From 1 December to 31 March and, where applicable, from 1 June to 31 July, caves with bat colonies are closed. Collecting fossils, minerals or speleothems is forbidden. In the park, visitors may move only on roads open to the public and on marked trails. In an emergency, call 112.

Facilities

No facilities in the caves · Salvamont–Salvaspeo container at the end of the forest road · mobile phone signal