# Izvorul Tăușoarelor Cave

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Transylvania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/transilvania) › [Bistrița-Năsăud County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/bistrita-nasaud) › [Rebrișoara](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/locality/rebrisoara)

> A very deep cave in the southern Rodna Mountains, with gypsum flowers, mirabilite, the “Tăușoare balls” and cave bear bones; a reserve closed to ordinary tourism.

**At a glance:** Caves in Rebrișoara, Bistrița-Năsăud County. Information verified on 31 October 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** The cave is not open to ordinary tourism and has no visiting hours; entry is only for authorised speleotourism groups or scientific teams, with approval.
- **With kids:** No — speleotourism only, with gear
- **Address:** Izvorul Tăușoarelor Valley, about 12 km north of the village of Gersa II, Rebrișoara, Bistrița-Năsăud County
- **Coordinates:** 47.44582, 24.52716
- **Website:** https://www.complexulmuzealbn.ro
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C4%83u%C8%99oare-Zalion_Reserve
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1765277
- **Categories:** [Caves](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/caves), [National parks and reserves](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/national-parks-and-reserves)

## 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](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/parcul-national-muntii-rodnei), with marked trails to the ridge, [Cheile Waterfall](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cascada-cheilor) near Sângeorz-Băi and [Bistrița Medieval Citadel](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cetatea-medievala-bistrita).

## Don't miss

- 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

## Details

- **Protected area type:** nature reserve, Natura 2000 site
- **Altitude:** 950 m
- **Developed and lit:** No
- **Guided visits only:** Yes

## 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”.

## Nearby attractions

- [Cheilor Waterfall](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cheilor-waterfall) — Waterfalls · Sângeorz-Băi, BN · Free · 14 km
  A 20–30 m waterfall in the Cormaia Valley, at the foot of the Rodna Mountains near Sângeorz-Băi; a built path of about 1 km, with steps, footbridges and chains, climbs alongside its tiers.
- [Pietrosul Rodnei Peak](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/pietrosul-rodnei-peak) — Mountains and trails · Borșa, MM · 5 lei · 7½ – 8 hours · 24 km
  The highest peak in the Eastern Carpathians (2,303 m), above Borșa in the Rodna Mountains. It is climbed in 4–4.5 hours on the blue-stripe trail, past the weather station and Lake Iezer, shaped like a map of Romania.
- [Rodna Mountains National Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/rodna-mountains-national-park) — National parks and reserves · Borșa, MM · 5 lei · 7½ – 8 hours · 26 km
  The highest range in the Eastern Carpathians, with Pietrosul Rodnei Peak (2,303 m), glacial cirques and Iezer Lake; a national park and biosphere reserve, most often climbed from Borșa.
- [Cailor Waterfall](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cailor-waterfall) — Waterfalls · Borșa, MM · Free · 2 – 2½ hours · 34 km
  A roughly 90 m waterfall that drops in several tiers down a limestone wall in the Rodna Mountains, above the resort of Borșa; reached by chairlift and a short forest walk.
- [Borșa Resort](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/borsa-resort) — Ski slopes · Borșa, MM · Free · 4½ – 5 hours · 35 km
  The tourist complex at Băile Borșa, on the northern slope of the Rodna Mountains: a FIS-homologated Olympic slope, a gondola up to 1,633 m and floodlit night skiing, with summer walks on the upper plateau and towards the Cailor Waterfall.
- [Groșii Țibleșului Ancient Beech Forests](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/grosii-tiblesului-ancient-beech-forests) — National parks and reserves · Groșii Țibleșului, MM · 7½ – 8 hours · UNESCO World Heritage · 37 km
  Two tracts of primeval beech forest on the slopes of the Țibleș Mountains, Izvorul Șurii and Preluci, on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2017, with trees two to three centuries old and bears, wolves and lynx.

## Featured in the guides

- [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.
- [Famous caves in Romania you cannot visit: Movile, Topolnița, Vântului, Coliboaia, Peștera cu Oase (and what to see instead)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/caves-you-cannot-visit-in-romania) — Movile, Coliboaia, Cu Oase, Cloșani and Piatra Altarului are closed; Topolnița and Tăușoare need a permit; Wind Cave is open with a caving guide.

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Last updated: 31 October 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania