Ever imagine a place named to honor a selfless act? Here at Budapest II. district near Szépvölgyi road sits such a place. It is the Bagyura-barlang. This cave entrance marks access to a system with a unique story.
Bagyura-barlang once stood as an independent cave. Today it forms part of the Pál-völgyi-barlang system. This system lies within the Duna-Ipoly National Park in the Buda Hills. You can find it in tourist guidebooks too.
The entrance greets visitors near Szépvölgyi road. It is in a reclaimed quarry area. This opening significantly shapes the quarry’s appearance. The Bagyura-barlang entrance is at the same level as Pál-völgyi Cave’s entrance. A wooden fence with a gate guards the entry point. Some algae growth marks its opening.
Inside, timbering prevents falls into the depths. Bagyura-barlang connects Kis Hideg-lyuk and Harcsaszájú-barlang. It acts like a passageway. Once, Bagyura-barlang was the shortest in the system.
The surrounding rock mirrors nearby caves. It is mostly upper Eocene limestone. This limestone is from a shallow sea environment. Large single-celled organisms often appear as rock components.
Descending into Bagyura-barlang leads through rubble. Several openings appear within this debris. The path descends steeply. Seven meters down among large rocks, a 30-40 cm gap leads to Kis Hideg-lyuk.
A narrow passage links Kis Hideg-lyuk to Bagyura-barlang’s lower section. Bagyura-barlang’s northern fissure ends at Harcsaszájú-barlang. Rubble and waste fill this connection. Besides rubble formations, small dripstones dot Bagyura-barlang.
The name Bagyura-barlang first appeared in literature in 1913. Bekey Imre Gábor named it after Bagyura Tamás. This honored Bagyura’s help in cave exploration. Bagyura aided in photography, surveying, data collection and even dynamite blasting.
In 1902, the Jordan-barlang, Déry-barlang and Bagyura-barlang entrances were known. Bagyura Tamás’s assistance was invaluable. He supported Bekey Imre Gábor’s work.
The entrance to Bagyura-barlang is narrow with a steep descent. A rope helps descend six meters. This leads to a spacious chamber. This chamber is unique in the Pálvölgyi system. Most other spaces are corridors. Boulders cover the floor. One house-sized rock hangs from the ceiling. Bats often cluster on this rock.
A high passage once connected to Déry-barlang. Now, debris blocks this route. The chamber’s southern part contains a narrow channel. Bekey Imre Gábor found it. The cave remains partly unexplored.
In 1919, the Pannonia Tourist Association surveyed Bagyura-barlang. Members like Fröhlich Árpád and Bagyura János assisted. Research continues today. The cave’s passages suit chimney and crevice climbing. Smooth, wet walls make climbing challenging.
The Kőbánya-barlang directly underlies Harcsaszájú-barlang. They likely connect via a narrow chasm. Kőbánya-barlang’s low entrance leads to a 20-meter-long chamber.
In 1967, the Óbudai Szeszgyár Kinizsi Sportkör explored the Harcsaszájú–Bagyura system. They mapped the caves. Vukov Péter led the mapping.
The group connected Harcsaszájú-barlang and Bagyura-barlang in autumn 1967. They created a single system. The suggested name is Harcsaszájú–Bagyura-barlangrendszer.
The system stretches 194.5 meters in projection. Its actual length reaches 261.9 meters. Significant vertical extent marks this system. The difference between the entrance and Guillotine Hall is 40.8 meters.
Both caves formed along a northeast-southwest fault line. Tectonic movements likely spurred thermal water activity. Minerals like calcite and barite precipitated from thermal waters. Brown cave clay fills many parts.
Bagyura-barlang reveals more than just geological history. It shows dedication and gratitude. It stands as a tribute to collaborative spirit in exploration. Let us appreciate the hidden worlds beneath our feet.