As geographic location, Veterans cave is located on the left bank of the Danube in wall of the limestone massif called Ciucarul Mare. It was the first cave charted in Europe and has been inhabited by humans since ancient times, about 3500 years ago, initially being used to shelter people or animals.
Later, Dacians worshiped here Zamolxis... On the altar inside the cave they sacrificed birds to bring an offering to the gods. This place was not chosen by chance, but because in the morning, after sunrise, the rays penetrate through an opening of 15 m high, which become a circular shape due to the shape of the window and fall directly on the altar.
In the 18th century the cave knows the most exciting period, namely the imperialist period, when the Danube was the border of the two great empires of the time: on the left, on the Serbian side, under the Ottoman Empire, and on the other side, the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Austrians have thought that it would be good to find a strategic point on the Danube to stop the Turkish invasion. So they found this cave and built a military fortification, led by Italian General Frederico Veterans, who also gave the name of the cave.
Today, in the cave can be seen only a wall of what once was the General’s room. Another significant part of the cave is connected to the water, an element so important for people, because of the Danube is not drinkable. Because the military needed water, they had to dig over 0 meters to reach a small source of drinking water.
In the same time, the natural window of the cave was used for observation and defense now, having also a cannon placed there. When the Turks attacked from the other side of the Danube, the Austrians fought back. Curious here are wondering how could the soldiers get whit the weapons to the window. Well, once, on the wall of the cave there was a natural bridge that helped them to climb the arms there. Today, due to water infiltration it cannot be seen anymore.
The soldiers rest at Veterani till 1830 when the Turks conquered Budapest, and they were forced to leave the cave.
Currently, the Veterans Cave is one of the most important touristic attractions of the Danube Gorge. Because it can be reached only by boat, the visit of the cave is a good opportunity to observe the landscape and vegetation from the boat.
References:
Veteran travel guide Photo: L'Archivio "Living Heritage-An Unlimited Resource for Tourism Development".
International editions: