Királylaki Cave

Királylaki Cave is the longest cave in the Buda Hills and the third longest such cave in Hungary, formed in dolomite. It is among the specially protected caves of Hungary.

Description

In the Danube–Ipoly National Park, in Budapest's 3rd district, on the side of Tábor Hill, at Királylaki Road, on the border of a residential park and the nature reserve area, it is located about 100 metres from the entrance of an old strategic gas storage tunnel; the entrance of the tunnel and the entrance of the cave are locked.

It formed in firestone, Triassic dolomite, along a steep tectonic plane. At the intersection of tectonic faults the dolomite was so crushed that the leaking waters, by corrosion, widened the cracks into rock cavities. In the crumbly dolomite, besides larger chambers, narrow fissures are characteristic. The cave contains a large amount of water‑origin dripstone formations. With the permission of the Danube–Ipoly National Park Directorate, for research purposes, with a research team, in clean clothing and using electric lamps, it can be visited.

The third longest dolomite‑formed cave in Hungary. The longest dolomite‑formed cave in the Buda Hills.

In the literature the cave also occurs under the names Királylaki‑táró‑cave (Fazekas 2013) and Óbudai‑gas storage cave (Slíz 2014).

History

Located on the area formerly owned by the Óbuda Gas Factory, a natural cave opening from an old strategic gas storage, discovered and opened by István Szenthe, a report arrived in spring 2011 to the VM Speleology and Geology Department. Afterwards the Speleology and Geology Department surveyed and registered the cave. The exploration of the cavity system was started on 24 November 2011 by the Ariadne Karst and Cave Research Association. Királylaki Cave, cadastral number 4763‑39, within the operating area of the Danube–Ipoly National Park, has been a specially protected cave since 25 February 2012, according to the Minister of Regional Development's order 4/2012. (II. 24.) VM.

Since July 19, 2013, according to Ministerial Decree 58/2013. (VII. 11.) VM of the Minister of Regional Development, the Királylaki-táró-barlangja (Budai Mountains, Duna–Ipoly National Park Administration operational area) is visitable with the administration's approval. Since May 10, 2021, according to Ministerial Decree 17/2021. (IV. 9.) AM of the Minister of Agriculture, the Királylaki-táró-barlangja (Budai Mountains, Duna–Ipoly National Park Administration operational area) is visitable with the administration's permission. Decree 13/1998. (V. 6.) KTM simultaneously loses its effect.