Pilis Cave

Piliss Cave is one of the highly protected caves of Hungary. It is located in the Pilis Mountains in the Danube–Ipoly National Park. The Pilis Mountains' fourth longest cave is the Gift Cave, after the Ariadne cave system and the Saint Elizabeth cave. It is one of the most dripstone-rich caves in the mountains.

Description

On the southern side of the Vaskapu Valley, above the valley floor, about 45 m from the valley floor, at the base of a 3–5 m high rock wall, in a hard‑to‑find place, are the two fox‑hole‑like entrances. From the valley floor of Vaskapu Valley, where the entrances are not visible, a trail leads to the entrances; it is difficult to walk in rainy or snowy weather. The easiest approach is from Pilisszentkereszt along the green‑band tourist trail marked for tourists heading toward the Two‑Beech‑Tree Ridge, then following the red‑cross‑marked path that turns left at the Maria ledge. Tourist maps also mark the entrance location.

A place frequently visited by beginner cavers. In both its size and its beauty it stands out among the other caves of Vaskapu Valley, among the rock chambers. The cave’s waters were long supplied by one larger and several smaller water sinks. Its two current entrances functioned as spring outlets, therefore the cave is an inactive spring cave. It formed in Triassic period Dachstein limestone. It has a relatively simple layout, which makes it difficult to get lost inside.

It consists of a single meandering corridor that gradually ascends inward, sometimes becoming double‑leveled. There are many speleothems in the newly discovered section uncovered in 1989, including stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, draperies, stalactite columns, helicites and dripstone streams. In addition, common formations are condensed cave pearls and dried or water‑filled dripstone basins (tartaric formations). On the walls of its passages one can observe cupolas, rimstone dams, erosion pots, sinters, wave shells, cannelures and prehistoric artifacts. Many bats use it as a winter roost. The sealed cave is accessible periodically with the permission of the Danube–Ipoly National Park Directorate, using electric lighting. The cave walk can be traversed with basic equipment.

In 1976 the cave was first called Pilis Cave in the literature. In the literature the cave also appears under the names Pilis cave (Jánossy 1976), Pilis‑summit‑cave (Kárpát 1993) and Pilis‑summit stalactite cave (Kárpát 1990).

Research history

In the book *Pilis guidebook* published in 1967 it is mentioned that around the Szoplák Valley cave, in the Vaskapu Valley, many small cavities hide among the bushes. In the autumn of 1969 forest workers who built the access path found its entrance. The 1969 report of the Gábor Áron Cave Exploration Group states that the Gábor Áron Cave Exploration Group toured Pilis Cave once in 1969 (3 hours, 6 people). On October 6, 1970 the Red Meteor Nature Lovers Association Diogenes Group surveyed the then 150 m long Pilis Cave.

The 1971 Karst and Cave Research Information Bulletin states that there are fissure caves enlarged by karst water in the Pilis mountain, e.g., the Pilis Cave. The entrance to Pilis Cave is on the left side of the tourist trail marked with a blue square that leads from Pilisszentkereszt to the Klastrom cliffs, in a rock wall of the Vaskapu valley. The cave is 150 m long, not counting insignificant side branches. On average it is 1 m wide and 3–4 m high. The passages were formed along fissures oriented ENE–WSW and E–W. It had one large and several smaller swallow holes, but these no longer function. Consequently the cave is inactive, a dripstone cave. This part has been devastated by the Pilis summit and therefore the cave’s catchment area has been reduced to a minimum, and there is no water flow in the cave any more.

Its dripstones are very rich in form. White and, because of iron, yellow‑brown, radish‑shaped dripstones also occur. These stalactites are interesting because they are hollow even at their rounded ends. The edges of the dripstone flows are often serrated. Among the limestone formations, the centimeter‑sized, twig‑like growths on the wall of the first large hall are noteworthy. Limonite incrustations can be seen on the walls. To pass the entrance one must crawl through several spherical chambers created by the swirling motion of water. Continuing to crawl leads to a hall 5 m long and 4 m high, which has a beautiful dripstone flow on its right side. After the hall the way leads into a narrow and high fissure. After a few bends a small hall follows. In its centre stands a half‑meter‑high stalagmite, above which dripstone flags hang from the ceiling. In a cavity to the left, centimeter‑sized limestone stalactites (tetrarites) have formed from the seeping water.

In a right‑angled corridor that bends several times one must continue, then after stepping over a 2 m pit the visitor reaches the bottom of the Great‑Cone. The walls of the almost circular‑cross‑section cone have been smoothed by the descending karst water. It has not yet been possible to climb to the top. After the cone there is a 15 m long narrow corridor, which ends in a sharp turn. From here the way leads to an interesting chamber. In the chamber the fissure on the left probably leads to the top of the Great‑Cone. By climbing the brain‑bearing formation on the right the visitor reaches the bottom of a small cone. Climbing up to the top of the cone, beautiful white, teardrop‑shaped stalactites can be observed. These are similar to the Retek‑branch formations found in Baradla Cave.

Returning to the chamber one must continue along a winding corridor. Along the way one has to cross over a small depression. After a few turns the passage becomes so narrow that it cannot be proceeded further. In several places insignificant side branches join the main passage. Bats dwell in the cave in pairs and threes at various locations. The paper shows some data on the cave’s humidity and ground temperature. The study published a 1 : 400 scale floor‑plan map of the cave. For the map the cave was surveyed on 6 October 1970 by the Diogenes Group of the Budapest Red Meteor Sports Club Cave‑Exploration Section.