History

Paradise Cave was first discovered in 1963/64. It is under protection as a natural reserve because of rich travertine formations, scientific and didactical virtues. It also a protected archaeological post. Making the cave accessible helped protecting its unique formations and moreover – enabled scientific researches. The cave opened for tourists in 1972.

In 1963 Józef Kopec and Feliks Wawrzenczak came across a cleft running deep into the rock while excavating limestone on the slope of mountain Malik. Soon after some teenagers from neighbouring village Sitkówka got through it destroying some of dripstones. The cleft discoverers covered its entrance with rocks to prevent possible accidents.

In 1964 once more the cave was entered - this time by students of Cracow Geological College (Bohdan Baldun, Zbigniew Bochajewski, Wlodzimierz Lucki and Wojciech Pucek). During summer training they had a chance to enter and see beautiful sights that charmed them so much that they called the place “paradise”. The day after students came back with instructor – Mrs. Miroslawa Boczarowa. After that the entrance was covered for some time and fact of cave’s existence was kept in secret. Ryszard Gradzinski from Speleology Section of Polish Naturalists Association was informed and brought to the cave to make its plan and photographic documentation.

In January 1965 members of Speleology Section – R.Gradzinski, K.Kowalski, W.Szymczakowski – visited the cave. National Wildlife Protection Board and Provincial Nature Conservator were informed about discovery and started planning its permanent protection. In June the press gave information that many damages have been made in the cave because of uncontrolled visits and therefore Zbigniew Rubinowski and Tymoteusz Wróblewski from the Swietokrzyski Geology Institute closed its entrance with a grating.

In 1966 – there have been first projects of building the route inside the cavern, the cave has been measured by students from Surveyors Association. The decision has taken been – in agreement with the National Wildlife Protection Board - that the ebst way of protecting cave’s treasures is to open it for tourists.

1967 – 10th of July: the Provincial Nature Conservator in Kielce decided to protect the cave as a valuable archaeological post.

1968 – 5th of October the cave and its surroundings has been announced a nature preserve.

1967-1972 – mining and building works in the cave and around it – combined with scientific researches over sediments that filled the cave’s floor.

1972 – 10th of May: formal cave opening for tourists; 7th of October the Scientific Cave’s Protection Committee starts operating and its main goal is taking care about proper cave’s tourist exploitation.