Pradis Caves

ADDRESS OF CELL: Via Pradis di Sotto, 33090 Clauzetto, PN
TEL: 366 1687906 and 0427 80323
MANAGER: Comune di Clauzetto and Ecomuseo Lis Aganis
OPENING HOURS: https://www.grottedipradis.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/All.-Sub.-A-PERIODI-DI-APERTURA-2024-GROTTE-DI-PRADIS.pdf
WEBSITE: https://www.grottedipradis.it/

SHORT DESCRIPTION: The Pradis Caves are a complex of karst caverns of different width and depth, positioned at several levels along a deep canyon carved by the Cosa Torrent. Their origin dates back to the emergence of limestone from the sea during the formation of Alps (Late Cretaceous) and at a later stage, to their slow chemical erosion due to the karst phenomena. Studies, which have been done in the Pradis area, estimated a rock dissolution rate of 1-2 hundredth of millimeter per year. This mechanism, in addiction with the strong erosive action of the Cosa Torrent that hauls boulders, pebbles and sand, increases the mass of calcareous rock which is periodically eroded. Further studies attribute the excavation of the canyon of the Cosa Torrent to a recent period, which is compatible with the last glaciation occurred about 100,000-130,000 years ago.

Don Giacomo Bianchini, Pradis di Sotto priest, understood the beauty of these places already in 1921 and foretold a future enhancement. In 1965 don Terziano Cattaruzza inaugurated the cavern that hosts the Virgin Mary of Caves and, in 1969, completed the path to descend into the canyon. Recently has been built a ring path surrounding the canyon, crossing upstream the Cosa Torrent through an ancient stone bridge and downstream through a  suspended steel bridge, offering to the visitors a unique perspective, an open book about geology, karst and the erosive power of meteoric and flowing waters.

The Pradis Caves are also known as an important archeological Paleolithic Age site. Many finds have been discovered here, especially rests of animals and stone tools. Some of them are conserved in the near Cave Museum and in the Archeological Museum of Torre, in Pordenone.


>>Click here to download Pradis Cave and Cave Museum Guide