Ahnenloch – kraško brezno

AHNENLOCH (T6–polhar’s trail) near Podstenice is a 118-meter-deep karst sinkhole, considered by cave explorers to have the most beautiful speleothems on the Kočevski Rog. Access was made possible to cavers only after the ceiling in the entrance area collapsed. Without equipment, it is accessible up to the large chamber, which, after the collapse, continues into a 55-meter-deep inner shaft with beautiful stalagmites at the bottom. The total length of the cave is 230 meters, making it one of the deepest karst formations in the Lower Carniola region. The sinkhole is located at an altitude of 723 meters. Its low cadastral number indicates that it was explored in the 1930s. The first records, where the cave is even referred to by its German name (Ahnenloch-grotte), describe the entrance as follows: “The entrance to the cave is possible only for dry people, as there is a danger for the overweight to get stuck in the hole!” (Marko Pršina – seminar for tourist guides).