Svrljig caves Popšica cave
Popšica cave in Svrljig area
Popšica cave is, with Prekonoga cave, one of first explored caves of Republic of Serbia. It is located in village Popšica in Svrljig town. It is located about 40km from city of Niš. Or 2km from from Popšica village. On Kalafat mountain. On this location there is natural spring of hot water. Temperature of this water is constantly about 20c all year long.
Jovan Cvijić was first explorer who officially entered it. For science purposes, from 19th century. After him also Jovan Žujović. In cave can be seen much of speleology jewellery as much as bats. And also this cave is the largest habitat of bats in Balkan territory.
Located 5 kilometers from Samar cave and also near Prekonoga cave. Also located on Kalafat mountain. Near city of Niš, 45 kilometers away. So for the closenes of it to Nis, some people are going there during summer.
What to see around Popšica cave
Around Popšica cave in Kalafat mountain base, there is hot water pool. It is created form hot water spring, that is bordered with fence. That was started in 1969. Beside this pool, and Samar cave, here is one more thing to visit. It is Monastery of Holy Archangel Gavrilo in village Pirkovac. Monastery of Saint Gavrilo Archangel is located on about twenty minutes from Popšica by foot. In that monastery can be seen two relics, part of clothes of Saint Petka, and icon of God Mother Brzopomocnica for Holy mountain. Exact time of building of monastery is unknown. But it’s presumed that isfrom time of Saint Sava, and Nemanjić’s dynasty. It is mentioned in Ottoman writings from 16. century. There is belief that the spring well in monastery has healing water. Monastery is led by priest Vernava Nikolić, who rebuild it in 2002.
