Piusa Caves, Sand cave system in Võru Parish, Estonia.
Piusa Caves form a sandstone cave system in southeastern Estonia with interconnected chambers and corridors carved out during decades of sand extraction work. The underground spaces clearly show the marks of mining, with support pillars strategically left behind and carefully shaped passageways.
Mining for fine sand began here in 1922 to supply glass factories, with workers extracting material until 1966. The four decades of steady extraction transformed the natural sandstone into the underground maze that exists today.
The name comes from the nearby Piusa Stream, and the site now serves as a place where people learn about local geology and sand mining traditions. Visitors experience hands-on workshops that connect them to the area's working past.
Guided tours depart from the visitor center, which helps you understand the cave layout and available routes before going underground. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a jacket, as the caves maintain a cool temperature year-round.
In winter, thousands of bats from seven different species take shelter in these caves, forming one of the largest hibernation colonies in Eastern Europe. These bats are completely harmless, and they remain inactive during the day when visitors explore the underground passages.
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