Izvorul Tăușoarelor Cave
About Izvorul Tăușoarelor Cave
Izvorul Tăușoarelor Cave, also known as Tăușoare Cave, opens at about 950 m above sea level, on the left bank of the Izvorul Tăușoarelor stream, in the upper basin of the Gersa, within the commune of Rebrișoara. The stream sinks underground and flows through its galleries, beneath the southern slope of the Rodna Mountains. It was discovered in 1955 by the schoolteacher Leon Bârte, and the first studies were carried out by researchers of the “Emil Racoviță” Institute of Speleology in the early 1960s.
It is one of the deepest and longest caves in Romania. The survey in the management plan gives 8,650 m of galleries and a vertical range of 409 m, while more recent explorations have extended the known network to about 17 km, the longest in the Eastern Carpathians. Its long and often narrow galleries, with repeated climbs and descents, make it an exhausting cave even for cavers.
What makes it special
The cave holds gypsum flowers (oulofolites) clustered like stone chrysanthemums, needle-like mirabilite crystals and the “Tăușoare balls”, spherical limestone nodules whose origin is still debated. In the Hall of Bear Bones, fossils of cave bear and brown bear were found together. In winter the galleries shelter about 10,000 bats of five species, one of the largest hibernation colonies in the country, and some of the 21 cave-dwelling species identified here are endemic.
Good to know
The cave is a protected area of national interest and a Natura 2000 site (ROSCI0193), in the custody of the Bistrița-Năsăud Museum Complex. It is not equipped and cannot be visited as a show cave: the bats' hibernation galleries are in protection class A, open only to monitoring and research teams with the approval of the Speleological Heritage Commission. The permitted sectors can be entered only in organised speleotourism groups, with authorisation, caving gear and a guide. Nearby, visitors can freely explore Rodna Mountains National Park, with marked trails to the ridge, Cheile Waterfall near Sângeorz-Băi and Bistrița Medieval Citadel.
Information verified on 31 October 2026.
- The gypsum flowers (oulofolites), clustered like stone chrysanthemums in a dead-end side passage.
- The “Tăușoare balls”, spherical limestone nodules lodged among fallen boulders.
- The needle-like mirabilite crystals, also called “cave hair”.
- The Hall of Bear Bones, with fossils of cave bear and brown bear from the same period.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: from Bistrița ~36 km (~1 h) to the village of Gersa II, on the DN17 and DN17C to Năsăud, then on the DN17D to Rebrișoara and on the commune road towards Gersa; from Năsăud ~14 km (~30 minutes). From Gersa II, the road along the Gersa Valley climbs another ~12 km to the cave area. Access to the cave is arranged only together with the custodian.
Public transport: as far as Năsăud and Rebrișoara; there is no public transport for the last ~12 km to the cave.
- Rules
The cave is a scientific reserve and a Natura 2000 site: entry without authorisation is forbidden, and the galleries with bat colonies are closed to all activities other than monitoring and research. Speleotourism groups enter only with the approval of the Speleological Heritage Commission, are assessed for fitness beforehand and need caving gear (helmet with head torch, oversuit, boots) and a guide. Do not touch the gypsum and mirabilite formations, do not disturb the bats and leave nothing in the cave.
- Facilities
No facilities in the cave or at the entrance · mobile signal not guaranteed in the valley
Frequently asked questions about Izvorul Tăușoarelor Cave
Can you visit Izvorul Tăușoarelor Cave with kids?
No, Izvorul Tăușoarelor Cave is not recommended for visits with children (speleotourism only, with gear).
How do I get to Izvorul Tăușoarelor Cave?
Izvorul Tăușoarelor Cave is located at Izvorul Tăușoarelor Valley, about 12 km north of the village of Gersa II, Rebrișoara, Bistrița-Năsăud County. More under “Getting there”
Reviews
Other attractions nearby
The closest attractions to Izvorul Tăușoarelor Cave, sorted by distance.
24 km from Izvorul Tăușoarelor Cave
26 km from Izvorul Tăușoarelor Cave
