Cave Vranjača

Description

Vranjača Cave is located at the foot of the central part of Mosor, on its northern side. Access is possible from Split by asphalt road through Dugopolje to the village of Kotlenica in the hamlet of Punde (25 km), and another 300 m by dirt road to the entrance to the cave.

The entrance part, the so-called atrium, has been known to locals since ancient times, while the other part was discovered by the owner of the land on which the cave is located, Stipe Punda, passing through a narrow passage behind a wounded pigeon. In 1900, the cave was explored by members of the Speleological Department of PTD Liburnija from Zadar, and in 1903 the miner Luigi Miotto from Split surveyed the cave and reported the "discovery" to geologist Dr. Fritz Kerner in Vienna. Making a geological map of central Dalmatia, Kerner visited the cave and in 1904 published the article "Die Grotte von Kotlenice am Nor-dfusse der Mosor-planina". Prof. Umberto Girometta is especially credited with propagating the natural beauty of the cave, which he writes about in the daily press, magazines and scientific publications, which has resulted in an increased visit to the cave.
The HPD Mosor branch, founded in Split in 1925, founded the Karst Phenomena Research Section in 1927, which set the first task of arranging the Vranjača cave for a tourist visit. Mosor, the most effort was invested by the then head of the Section for Research of Karst Phenomena, engineer Rade Mikačić. Under his guidance and supervision, all the works in the cave were carried out, and in order for the work to be done as well as possible, he even settled in Kotlenice for a while.

The cave was inaugurated on December 15, 1929, and was attended by government officials, members of the HPP Mosor, nature lovers and locals Kotlenica. A memorial plaque was then unveiled. Today, this slightly faded slab testifies to the significance of the construction project and the then noble goal of the speleologist Mosor.

In his report “Cave Finds in Central Dalmatia” (Croatian Mountaineer, 10/11/1935), Girometta states:
"Among so many caves, which I explored in central Dalmatia, I did not find more favorable living conditions in the troglodyte age than in Vranjača. Noon-oriented opening, a spacious relatively dry underground cavity with lots of light and a constant temperature of 16 ° C, protection from the cold bora, the proximity of water, forests and mountains, in which various species of postdiluvial animals certainly lived, along with the cave bear. indeed, they are a blessing to the people of that time. ”

This was confirmed during the widening of the narrow passage from the atrium to the interior of the cave in 1929, and experimental soundings in 1934 and 1935. Girometta then found that the cave was inhabited in ancient times and that the first cultural layers date from the early Neolithic era. On that occasion, various earthenware and bone fragments were found with several layers, and in the deepest layers, the antlers of Cervus dama and the jaw of Ursus spelaeus, in several fragments of the tibia and femur. In 1913, Girometta discovered a new species of cave spider in the cave, which was named Stalita gireomettai. Based on the research of troglobic and troglophilic fauna undertaken by Girometta during 1913, 1914 and 1921, a rich cave fauna was found in the cave. It was published in program c. k. Great Realka in Split in 1914 as a "Contribution to the knowledge of trogloby and troglophilous fauna of Dalmatia with geo-morphological notes on explored caves and pits" and in the booklet Vranjača under Troglobija and troglophilic fauna of Vranjača, published by HPD Mosor on the occasion of the opening of Vranjača in 1929.

After II. During World War II, Vranjač was mostly visited by mountaineers and smaller groups of excursionists until 1970. Then the cave was electrified again and the Forest Management (today Croatian Forests) took care of it through its commissioner. Mirko Punda, a long-time guide to the cave, is now in his advanced years, so his sons are equally successful in guiding him. According to the Nature Protection Act, the Vranjača cave was protected in 1963 as a geomorphological natural monument. The richness of sigma ornaments certainly classifies it as the most beautiful tourist cave in Dalmatia. Arranged environment, with stone and wooden benches and tables, then a pine forest and pure nature and sightseeing of the always attractive Vranjača, are the reason for the visit of excursionists and nature lovers to this picturesque area.