Peshna Cave Hides the Secret of the Human Fish and Krali Marko’s Sisters

Peshna Cave Hides the Secret of the Human Fish and Krali Marko’s Sisters According to speleologists Peshna has the biggest entrance in the Balkans. Photo: static.panoramio.com

In the embrace of the Porece region, just below the crust of the earth where you can feel the breath of the sky, the gorgeous cave Peshna extends in the depth.

Peshna Cave is situated 6 km from Makedonski Brod on the regional road to Samokov and it is one of the most attractive natural beauties of Macedonia. Unfortunately, not many people know about it, so it is still an undiscovered treasure and a completely unexploited tourist destination, although it was proclaimed a natural heritage of Macedonia. The road that leads to the cave is enclosed with trees and bushes and leads right to its incredibly huge entrance.

Fascinating cave system

According to speleologists Peshna has the biggest entrance in the Balkans. This natural masterpiece leaves you breathless with its magnitude, grandeur and beauty. It is 30 metres high and about 70 metres deep. There aren’t many stalactites on the ceiling of the cave, but nature itself has wonderfully shaped the rock and there is an endemic species of bats that are very important for the ecosystem.

Two hundred metres underground there is a lake with an endemic species of human fish whose skin resembles human skin, a feature that was only found in the inhabitants of Postojna Caves in Slovenia. The human fish or olm is a neotenic animal. In simple words, this means that an adult keeps most of its juvenile features. This means all human fish are babies that have taken on adult functions.

There are huge rocks, over 2 metres high, with brilliant reliefs and due to the big entrance, sunlight reaches the far end of the cave so you will have no problem walking around it. The ceiling and walls of the cave shine with amazing colours, from light green to deep purple.

In May, when snow begins to melt and water comes pouring down from the mountains, you can hear the roar of the waterfalls inside the cave. North of the entrance there is a small stream that springs from a little lake at the back of the cave. According to some, it is actually Krapska River which creates several underground lakes and waterfalls. This spring dries up during the dry season.

The system of caves is supposed to be over 10 kilometres long which makes it one of the longest caves in Macedonia. Macedonian speleological societies along with several experts from France have been exploring the cave for years and have discovered incredible underground treasures seen nowhere else on the planet.

The home of Krali Marko’s sisters

Peshna is registered as an archeological locality from the Late Antiquity in Macedonia. At the entrance of the cave there is a medieval fortress which in connection with Devini Kuli (Deva’s Towers) locality. 

According to legend, Krale Marko (King Marko) had four sisters and he built homes to two of them in this area.

In the 14th century he built a home for his older sister Peshna at the entrance of the cave, and for his younger sister Deva, he built a home opposite the cave, a few hundred metres to the west. There are still some remains of the building at the top of the hill. Two villages in this area, Devic and Peshna, were named after the two sisters.

Peshna Cave in “The New York Times” was described as identical to the imaginary caves in “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The fortress built inside the cave resembles Helm’s Deep fortress in “Lord of the Rings’. The whole region boasts a pure, intact nature where you can have a picnic by the Treska river which runs several hundred metres from the cave. The river is ideal for fishing, and for the not so fortunate fishermen there is the Peshna motel and its fish farm. Near the cave there is a traditional restaurant “Dedo Ilija” where you can try traditional Macedonian dishes.

If you’re in the mood for traditional village ambience, 17km east of Brod lies Monastirec, a whimsical place with a beautiful monastery (it’s a one-hour hike uphill, or a 20-minute drive on an asphalt road). Sustained by agriculture, the village is set in a bowl surrounded by verdure. The River Treska runs past it, just near the village entrance, and in summer there are nice hikes on the riverside trail.

A great place to eat, and even to sleep if you don’t mind the simple accommodations, is the Riben Restoran-Motel Izvor, right by the river and its cool, rejuvenating air. The giant fanged bear in the back, and live trout swimming in the pools, provide great excitement for small children. Unlike the bear, the dark and spotted trout are not just for decoration- choose your victim and they’ll cook it for you.

Тhis natural masterpiece should be on your must see list. It is worth visiting because of the intact nature, blue skies, peace and quiet, and after you have taken the most incredible photographs to cherish your memories, you can continue to your next adventure.