Deep within the dolomite rock of Nagy-Szénás lies the Nagyszénási-sziklaüreg. This isn’t just any cave. It’s a hidden gem a testament to the power of nature’s slow relentless work.
The Nagyszénási-sziklaüreg is one of two caves nestled in the side of Nagy-Szénás mountain. It’s located within the Buda Landscape Protection Area part of the Danube-Ipoly National Park. Tourist guides have long featured it.
This remarkable cave formed through erosion within the triassic dolomite. Its characteristic feature is its fissure-like structure. You can even spot bat droppings inside. The entrance is a narrow high fissure. It opens to a spacious comfortable chamber. This chamber widens slightly further in. At the end it narrows again. A small staircase leads to a smaller inner chamber. From there the cave splits into smaller cracks. The cave’s interior is tall. You can see up high into the fissures. However the cave gets narrower as you progress. In the inner chamber there is a small opening about six meters high. Light from the surface penetrates this hole. This single-story horizontal cave is dry and dusty. It’s also open to visitors requiring no special permit. Basic caving equipment isn’t necessary. A simple lamp will suffice. You can explore it easily.
The Nagyszénási-sziklaüreg first appeared in literature in 1976. Interestingly it has had several names over the years. These include Nagy-Szénási-kőfülke Nagyszénási sziklaüreg Nagy-Szénási-sziklaüreg and Zsiroshegyi-sziklaüreg. The name Nagy-Szénási-kőfülke is misleading. There is a similar name used for a cave in Sós-hegy.
The cave’s history is as intriguing as its structure. A 1964 book mentions the beautiful views from the cave. A 1966 guidebook describes two small caves on Nagy-Szénás the Nagy-szénási barlang and this very cave. A path used to lead to the Nagyszénási-sziklaüreg. That path is no longer maintained.
Borzsák Sarolta and Egri Csaba surveyed the Nagyszénási-sziklaüreg in 2004. They created a floor plan and three cross-sections. Their measurements showed the cave is six meters long and 1.5 meters deep. Another record from September 26 2004 states different measurements. It claims a length of ten meters with a vertical extent of six meters. It also has a height of six meters and a horizontal spread of ten meters. Despite these discrepancies one thing is certain the Nagyszénási-sziklaüreg remains a captivating cave readily accessible to all. A simple and rewarding exploration awaits you.