Feszti Cave

Feszti Cave is among the specially protected caves of Hungary. It is located in Tata, within the Danube–Ipoly National Park.

Location

The small but interesting cave has its entrance on private property in the inner area of Tata, near the northern promenade of the Old Lake, in the courtyard of the so‑called Feszty Villa. Its discovery is not difficult, as it opens under the “owl‑nest” building’s lakeside part, which has been nicely restored, behind a small artificial pond.

Description

Feszti Cave received its name from the famous owner Adolf Feszty, an architect living in Tata (who was the brother of the renowned creator of the Feszty Panorama). In literature the cave also appears under the names Feszti Cave and Tatai Feszty Villa Cave.

It is a curiosity that this not very large (about 30 metres long) rock fissure is a so‑called sinogenic cave, which means it formed together with its host rock. Cave formation usually occurs when karst‑prone rock (mainly marine limestone) is slowly dissolved and hollowed out by carbonated water seeping along cracks (tectonic fault planes) or rising from depth. Here the situation was different. Freshwater limestone, also called travertine or incorrectly lime stone, precipitated from the former high‑flow, calcium‑rich, warm springs of Tata, in this case the Angolkert springs, enclosing representatives of the late Pleistocene fauna. This can be observed in the cave’s host rock as well as on its surface. The rock structure is loose and porous, and leaves, shells, and even some pieces of tree trunks and Ice Age animal bone fragments can be found here and there.

The limestone formation in such springs is most intense where plants (mainly mosses) are present, because these take up the carbon dioxide needed for them from the karst water while limestone precipitates, also calcifying the plants' bodies. The water flowing down creates waterfalls and cascades in several places, where the plants receive even more carbon dioxide. As a result, eventually sheet-like overhangs form from the deposited travertine, under which hollow, air-filled spaces may remain. These can gradually close, thus forming cavities, possibly a cave, in the rock. Caves of this type are rare; typical Hungarian examples are the Anna Cave in Lillafüred, a part of the Buda Castle Hill cave system, and the Tettyei spring cave in Mecsék. So far we have no knowledge of other significant caves in Hungary formed in this way. In Tata, there are also records of several such cavities (for example, a half-excavated cave chamber in the cellar of the so-called Ugron Villa). In the vicinity, such caverns also appear during various construction works, but unfortunately the developers usually fill them in quickly.

The cave is also visually striking, featuring many beautiful flowstone formations, stalactites, and several calcite sheet deposits from former water flow, also known as flowstone. It is especially beautiful when the water level of the nearby Old Lake rises; then water seeps through the permeable layer forming the floor of the cave and creates a small cave pool a few decimetres deep that reflects the formations. Since it is a closed, undisturbed cavity, several bats have taken up residence there, enhancing the interest of the small cave.

Research History

The arched entrance, a natural rock formation, was covered with earth for many years, so this small cave could only be accessed from the other opening. The villa became privately owned in the 1990s; the new owner cleared the courtyard stone layers that formed the natural rock base of the villa, and at that time the larger entrance emerged. After obtaining official research permits, the owner, with financial support, had the Megalodus Cave Exploration and Geological Working Group explore the cave, which also contained largely blocked and unknown sections, starting in 1995. First, the entrance leading to the lakeside promenade was sealed with a sturdy iron grate door equipped with a special lock that blended with the surroundings, then the sediment was carefully examined and the cave was explored. The arduous (mostly manual) work bore fruit, and Tata gained another natural treasure.

Within the operating area of the Danube–Ipoly National Park Directorate, in the Gerecse Mountains, the Feszti Cave with cadastral number 4630/88, from February 28, 2006, according to the instruction 8/2006 of the Minister of Environment and Water, is a cave requiring differentiated protection. The Feszti Cave with cadastral number 4630-88 located in the operating area of the Danube–Ipoly National Park Directorate, from February 25, 2012, according to the instruction 4/2012 (II. 24.) of the Minister of Regional Development, is a differentiated protected cave. From May 10, 2021, according to decree 17/2021 (IV. 9.) of the Minister of Agriculture, the Feszti Cave (Gerecse Mountains, Danube–Ipoly National Park Directorate operating area) may be visited with the directorate’s permission. Decree 13/1998 (V. 6.) of the Ministry of Tourism simultaneously loses its effect.