Baredine Cave

Baredine Cave is an underground karst system near the village of Nova Vas in Istria, just a few kilometres from the coast between Poreč, Višnjan and Tar. Open to visitors since 1995, it's one of the most popular natural attractions in western Istria.

How do you get there?

Nova Vas sits inland, roughly midway between Poreč and Višnjan, about 5 km from the shoreline. A car is the easiest way in, with parking right at the cave entrance. From Poreč it's only a short drive, which makes Baredine an easy half-day addition to a coastal holiday.

What will you see underground?

The tourist route follows a marked path around 300 metres long, winding through five successive chambers before reaching an underground lake at a depth of about 60 metres. The full cave system extends to 132 metres, and its lowest reaches hold lakes as deep as 30 metres — sections no longer open to visitors, but impressive simply for the scale they suggest.

Thousands of years of dripping water have carved a rich array of limestone formations inside: stalactites, stalagmites, and distinctive sinter "curtains" up to 10 metres long. Guides point out shapes locals have given their own names — some resemble a female figure, a leaning tower, or a snowman. One formation, nicknamed the torch-bearer, has become the cave's unofficial symbol.

Baredine is also known for a resident rarely seen above ground: the olm, or proteus, an amphibian endemic to the karst regions of southern Europe, found in the cave's underground pools.

A bit of history

The cave's lower sections, including access to the underground lakes, were discovered in 1973 by cavers from the Proteus speleological club of Poreč, who broke through a passage leading deeper into the system. That discovery paved the way for further exploration and, eventually, the cave's opening to tourists in the 1990s.

How long does a visit take?

Guided tours last around 40 minutes. The route is lit and follows a paved path, but it's worth bringing a light jacket — underground temperatures stay noticeably cooler than outside, whatever the season.

Frequently asked questions

How deep does the tour go? The tourist route descends to an underground lake at about 60 metres, though the full cave reaches 132 metres deep.

Does the olm really live in the cave? Yes — the underground pools of Baredine are home to the olm (proteus), an endemic cave-dwelling amphibian found across the karst of southern Europe.

How long is the guided tour? Walking the roughly 300-metre route through five chambers takes about 40 minutes.

How far is the cave from Poreč? Nova Vas, where the cave is located, is about 5 km from the coast and a short drive from Poreč.