Let’s start with a fun fact — The Expendables 2 used Devetashka Cave as one of its filming locations, with the enormous natural interior serving as a ready-made movie set that required very little additional staging. Despite this brief moment in the global spotlight, the cave remains first and foremost a protected natural site rather than a commercial attraction.

One of the cave’s most remarkable features is its importance for bat conservation. Devetashka Cave is considered one of the three most important winter bat hibernation sites in Europe. During the colder months, more than 35,000 bats from four different species spend the winter inside the cave, occupying its darker and quieter sections. Because of this, certain areas are periodically closed to visitors during sensitive periods such as breeding and hibernation in order to protect the animals and preserve the ecosystem.

Bulgaria itself is exceptionally rich in bat diversity. Of the 35 bat species recorded across Europe, 33 can be found in the country, making it one of the continent’s most important habitats for these mammals. All bat species in Bulgaria are protected under national legislation.

Unlike many cave systems that descend deep underground, Devetashka is relatively “shallow” in terms of visitor access. The main experience is concentrated in a single vast, high chamber close to the entrance, without an extensive network of narrow or deep passages. This gives the cave a very different atmosphere — more like a gigantic natural cathedral open to daylight than a traditional underground maze.

An unusual piece of trivia is that a single gummy bear weighs roughly the same as an average Bumblebee Bat, one of the smallest mammals in the world.

Outside the entrance, especially during the tourist season, small stalls are often set up selling local products such as honey, drinks, and regional specialties. These simple, informal stands add a local rural touch to the visit and reflect the cave’s setting within a quiet, largely uncommercialized landscape.