Lviv. The Honey Cave. Not just architectural landmarks

When picking the top iconic places to get to know Lviv, most people will mention palaces and townhouses, cathedrals, museums and parks. In the eastern part of the city there is a little-known landmark worth visiting for lovers of geology, speleology and motocross.

 

Minerals from local quarries were used to build roads and buildings. In a worked-out quarry a stone grotto formed, known since 1850. The color of the walls and the droplet-shaped surface texture resemble ripe honey, which is why the cave got the name Honey Cave (Medova).

Entrance to the cave

The yellow-pink coloring lost its natural color range after being damaged by torches. Despite its protected status and the installed information stands, barbecue-goers ignore the warnings to preserve this geological natural monument of local significance.

From time to time, enthusiasts and caring townsfolk come out for a communal cleanup and clear away piles of rubbish left after picnics, but the natural colors of the hollow cannot be restored.

 

The cavity in the rock massif consists of two large halls. The total length of the passages is about 56 m. The average height is 65 m. The vault of the first grotto is supported by a column that resembles a fused stalagmite and stalactite. The second grotto can be reached through a narrow crawlway and with a flashlight.

 

In ancient myths the cave is a symbol of the dungeon in which the human soul dwells. An atmosphere of mysticism and mystery pervades the underground cavity. If you peer into the stone folds, you can imagine enigmatic shapes, and the shadows of the monoliths create astonishing silhouettes. According to legend, a local miller searched for the hidden treasures of King Danylo. The find turned out to be in the cave's underground depths, but the unexpected apparition of a bearded old man appeared with the message that the mill was engulfed in fire. The miller rushed to save his livelihood, but it turned out that the mill was in its place and there was no fire. From that time on, the lover of easy riches gave up his search for treasure.

Like all caves, Medunka has its legends and its inhabitants that fly with the help of their hands, "see" with the help of their ears and sleep hanging upside down.

Photo: http://ukr.media/animals/299541/

The route to the "Maiorivka" green zone, on whose territory Medunka is located, begins on a street named in honor of the Honey Cave.

 

According to research by the historian Ivan Krypiakevych and the accounts of local residents, the hollow holds the remains of a small cemetery with burials from 1914-1915. People who were shot following the verdict of a Russian military court were buried in this place. 

The rocky hill with the cave rises on the northern side of the basin, while the lowland is used by motocross enthusiasts.

In 2003 the participants and spectators of the motorcycle races laid out an inscription from glass bottles on the hillside: "To the 50th anniversary of the motocross track."

To the south, on the outskirts of the Vynnyky Forest, there are springs with drinking water.

 

To the northeast lies another geological and historical landmark, the Devil's Rocks (Chortovi Skeli).

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This story is also available in Ukrainian: Львів. Медова печера. Не лише архітектурні пам'ятки