Potpece cave
The Potpec cave is situated in the Potpec village 14 m away from Uzice, in the northern valley of Dreznicka Gradina (932 m altitude). The entrance to the Potpec Cave is a monumental work of nature. The giant portal in the form of a horseshoe, 50 m high (from the bed of the flow to the confluence), 12 m wide at the bottom, and 22 m at the top, is the highest cave entrance in Serbia. It is carved into a lime cliff, whose vertical part is 72 m high. The explored and arranged length for visitors is 555 m. The falling path at the entrance has over 700 steps.
Geological content
According to J. Cvijic (1914.), the Potpec cave was built in the middle Triassic limestones, “which lie on the verfenic slates… Detailed geological research and entering on a map of this area were done by B. Markovic (in 1957. and 1968).
The Triassic limestone, of which the cave was built, is whitish, with porosity as of cracks and fine mosaic structure.
Speleological characteristics
In the Potpec cave two main floors of the cave channels can be distinguished: the older one – the Upper cave and the younger one- the Lower cave. The entrance channel is common for the both horizons, since it originated by destruction of the mezzanine construction and their merging. The riches of the cave ornaments is regarded as very rare among karst caves… In the morph-speleological sense, twelve units should be observed in the Potpece cave.
Hydrological characteristics
According to the morph-hydrographic evolution, three groups of channels are distinguished in the Potpece cave: the fossil (the Upper cave), the active periodic flow (the longer part of the Lower Cave) and the constantly active (the newest subterranean flow ).
Climatic characteristics
The average annual temperature of the air is 9.5 C
The Potpec cave and the man
It is estimated that the cave used to be man ‘s habitat even during the Neolithic. Plenty of ceramics, deer horns and stone tools. In any case its inhabitants knew how to make the best of its favourable natural characteristics.
Working hours:
From the first of April, the cave is open on weekdays from 12:00 to 16:00, on weekends from 10:00 to 18:00. From the first of May, the cave is open on weekdays from 10:00 to 18:00. Entries are at every hour. The last entry is at 17:00. The season lasts until October 31.
Ticket prices:
Individual – adults RSD 400, children RSD 300. Group – adults RSD 350, children RSD 250, Contact phone of the guide: 063/585-304