Klobasja Jama

Wursthöhle - Sausage Pit


Useful Information

Location: Novelo.
On road from Novelo to Kostanjevica na Krasu, turn first right
(45.8503145, 13.6603623)
Open: after appointment.
[2022]
Fee: free.
[2022]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst Cave TopicWorld War I
Light: bring torch
Dimension:  
Guided tours: self guided
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Klobasja Jama, Jamarski klub Temnica (Temnica Caving Club), Tel: +386-51-363-701, Cell: +386-31-310-800. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1916–1917 used as a shelter by the Austro-Hungarian army.

Description

Klobasja Jama (Wursthöhle, Sausage Pit) is one of several dozen caves along the Italian Austrian border, which were part of World War I front. For a long time it was stalled here, the Isonzo Line or Isonzo Front it was called. The Italians tried to invade the Kras and the Austrians sat on the hills and defended. They built trenches and used the natural caves as bunkers. The caving and building section of the Austro-Hungarian army researched and rearranged many caves on the karst plateaus. This is one of them.

The soldiers built their own war infrastructure, including roads, railways and water pipelines. In this cave they rested from work and battles. They also used it for temporary residences and ammunition as well as food storage. This cave has a good natural ventilation, it was used for sausage curing, that's how it got its name Wursthöhle. The cave also provided shelter for about 250 soldiers and the commanders of the infantry brigade.

Several of the caves here are actually vertical caves, more like a pit than a huge chamber. This one is no exception. The entrance is located in a small pit below ground, and it's going down a steep talus slope. That's it, two tiny side passage, but that's the whole cave. To utilize it the soldiers put bulk beds, ventilation system and toilets on terraces.

The cave is a project of the Jamarski klub Temnica (Temnica Caving Club). They are locals and try to reopen the numerous caves preserving the historic value of the cave. They started with this work decades ago and have already cleaned half a dozen caves quite successfully. They opened the entrance, which was blown up after the war, repaired the steps and terraces, removed litter, They also did caving, like checking for unknown passages, researching the cave life and so on. Their work was supported by the 100th anniversary of World War I, some time ago, which made public funding available. However, their work is and has been independent of political strategies.

While they were working at the cave they had a temporary electric light set up, and it was easy to go there and get a tour of the already cleaned parts. Now the cave is completed and the cave can be visited upon prior agreement with the Temnica Caving Club.