Szent Özséb Cave

Szent Özséb Cave is one of the highly protected caves of Hungary. It is located in Pilisszentkereszt in the Danube–Ipoly National Park. It is the third longest cave in the Pilis Mountains after the Ariadne cave system and the Ajándék Cave.

Geographic location

Szent Özséb Cave opens on the outskirts of Pilisszentkereszt in the highly protected area of the Danube–Ipoly National Park, near the Nagy‑Szoplák peak on the Pilis mountain plateau, at an altitude of 692 metres above sea level, one and a half kilometres from the Kétbükkfa ridge. The entrance is situated above the karst water level at about 570 metres altitude. Based on this, it may be the deepest yet unknown cave system in Hungary. The Ariadne cave system of the Csévi‑Szirti area lies southwest from here, one and a half kilometres away.

Description

It formed in Dachstein limestone. Its length is 900 metres, its depth 82 metres. It is currently an actively researched cave. The cave is sealed with a door. Its narrow, vertical, tube‑shaped entrance passage at a depth of 10 metres leads into the ceiling of a large chamber. Access to the cave requires a permit from the Danube–Ipoly National Park Directorate.

Formation

The cave formed in Dachstein limestone about half a million years ago, and the locations of the large chambers were probably marked by steep bedding planes. In the Pleistocene, as the surrounding area filled, only the top of Pilis Mountain protruded. From the Transdanubian Central Mountains, water flowing in the deep karst found its way to the surface here (also). In the thermal water, passages dissolved by mixing corrosion became air chambers as the mountain rose, and because of their proximity to the surface, vapor condensation on the ceilings of these air passages initiated the growth of stalactite‑like filaments. During the ice age, the passing drafts caused the walls to split in many places, passages to merge, and collapse debris to form semi‑floors that blocked passages. Most of the previously formed dripstones and the water‑originated speleothems were destroyed. The clay mounds typical of all caves were covered by rock debris. Since the ice age, small young dripstones have grown in some places, while elsewhere the dripping, soluble water has etched the walls into a lace‑like pattern.

Exploration history

In January 2003, on a cold Saturday, members of the Szent Özséb Barlang Exploration Group, led by György Slíz, went up to the snowy Pilis mountain to look for a new cave. They unrealistically quickly found a small spot where melted snow indicated the most certain sign of an unknown cave. The cave was named after the founder of the Hungarian Pálos order, Blessed Özséb, anticipating his canonisation, under the name Szent Özséb-cave. They immediately chiseled a hole, and the stone thrown into it echoed and bounced down into the depth. Later they returned with tools and after lifting a large stone the cave opened. A narrow passage led down, which merged into the roof of a huge hall. Then the Rain Hall and the Meander were revealed. On the next occasion, during a large rockfall they descended the Pele slope to the Coconut mine at a depth of 60 metres.

After this, the further parts of the cave were discovered thanks to targeted research. From 1 September 2005, according to the decree of the Minister of Environment and Water Management 22/2005. (VIII. 31.) KvVM, the Szent Özséb-cave located in the Pilis Mountains within the operating area of the Danube–Ipoly National Park Directorate may be visited with the permission of the supervisory authority. From 1 September 2005, according to the decree of the Minister of Environment and Water Management 23/2005. (VIII. 31.) KvVM, the Szent Özséb-cave in the Pilis Mountains is a highly protected cave. In 2005, despite serious collapses, the Csapolt Hall was successfully reached.

It was reported in the 2006 MKBT Information that the Szent Özséb Cave located in the Pilis Mountains became a specially protected cave. From March 8, 2007, according to the environmental and water affairs minister's decree 3/2007. (I. 22.) KvVM, the Szent Özséb Cave situated in the Pilis Mountains within the operational area of the Danube–Ipoly National Park Directorate may be visited with the directorate's permission. In 2008, after 15 metres of excavation, the lower level, the Pentenárium passage, was discovered. In August 2012, following an intuition, the Vastyúk branch was uncovered.

At the 2012 cave day of the Hungarian Karst and Cave Research Society, one of the caves recommended for caving was the Szent Özséb Cave, in which only electric lamps could be used. From July 19, 2013, according to the regional development minister's decree 58/2013. (VII. 11.) VM, the Szent Özséb Cave (Pil

is Mountains, Danube–Ipoly National Park Directorate operational area) is visitable with the directorate's approval. From November 3, 2015, according to the agriculture minister's decree 66/2015. (X. 26.) FM, the Szent Özséb Cave (Pil

is Mountains) is a specially protected cave. From May 10, 2021, according to the agrarian minister's decree 17/2021. (IV. 9.) AM, the Szent Özséb Cave (Pil

is Mountains, Danube–Ipoly National Park Directorate operational area) is visitable with the directorate's permission. Decree 13/1998. (V. 6.) KTM simultaneously ceases to be in effect.