Hell Cave, Show cave in Savinjska, Slovenia

Hell Cave (Jama Pekel) lies in Zalog pri Šempetru, about 4 km north of Šempeter in the Savinjska dolina. It has two levels: the lower one carries the Ponikvica stream, which emerges as Peklenščica Creek, and the upper dry passage is rich in flowstone. The main entrance passage is narrow, widening into small lakes and waterfalls, and ends at a siphon after about 400 m.

The cave is over three million years old and was used as a shelter by early humans, as shown by human bones found inside. In 1860 wooden footbridges were installed, and between 1860 and 1870 it was explored by Anton Franz Reibenschuh of Graz; Ivan Kač explored it at the end of the 19th century. It opened to the public in 1972 and has been managed by the local tourist association since.

The name Pekel means Hell in Slovenian, inspired by a rock formation at the entrance that resembles a devil figure. This naming has remained part of local identity and shapes how people think of the place today.

The main entrance passage is narrow, with several widenings, small lakes and waterfalls, and after about 400 m it ends at a siphon; the dry upper passage is reached from it. The highest waterfall has a 5 m drop and is the tallest underground waterfall accessible to tourists in Slovenia. The cave is about 4 km north of Šempeter in the Savinjska Valley.

An underground waterfall plunges about 5 meters down inside the cave, ranking among the highest tourist-accessible waterfalls in the country. This natural feature is relatively rare and makes the visit memorable for many travelers.