Experts on Hucul horses from Poland were in town and I was asked to translate for them on a tour of Aggtelek's emblematic Baradla Cave. I was unprepared for this request and had to gather bits of warm clothing from several people, since the cave is a constant 10 degrees. This sounds lovely-jubbly in summer, but after an hour you can still feel the cold in your bones if not properly dressed.

"The Caves of the Aggtelek Karst and the Slovak Karst were declared part of the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1995. This single geographical unit with its more than 1200 caves deserved the UNESCO title on the grounds of the complexity, diversity and relatively intact conditions of its caves and formations. The surface disguises some 1200 caves, 280 of which can be found on the Hungarian side. The total territory of the national park is more than 20 000 ha.(77 square miles). The Baradla cave stretches all the way across the border to Slovakia. The total length of the Baradla-Domica Cave System measures 25 km (15.5 miles), of which a 5.3 km (3.3 mile) long section is lying on the Slovakian side. Due to its length, activity and richness in cave formations. The Baradla Cave is undisputedly the most remarkable cave not only in Hungary, but also in this entire temperate zone. It was declared a natural monument as early as 1925, has been under protection since 1940, and under strict protection since 1982. Up until the last century, it held the status of the second longest cave in the world. Although its rating has decreased in the following decades, it still unquestionably remains among the top caves worldwide. The large chambers and multitude of dripstone formations such as stalactites, stalagmites and stalagmite columns leading the way deep underground spark the imagination. Along the way, you will encounter stunning formations and impressive halls such as the Mother-in-Law's Tongue, Santa Claus, the Tiger and the Columned Chamber. Come to one of the concerts in the Concert Hall, such as the Baradla Chamber Choir Festival, for an unforgettable experience and excellent acoustics.

Tour times are as follows:

Short 1-hour tour from Aggtelek

Short 1-hour tour from Jósvafő

Mid-length 2-hour tour from Red Lake