Sharenka is a small cave-mine in marble, about 2 km from the town of Madan, Smolyan Province, at about 830 m. It is unlike ordinary caves: there are no stalactites or stalagmites, and its whole story is about mining ore.
Archaeological finds show the cave was used as early as the Bronze Age, the 16th–12th centuries BC, when people dug ore out of the cave sediments — far easier to work than the vein itself. Thracians, Romans and Saxon miners dug here later. In 2008 the cave was fitted out in a joint project of the Madan and Keramoti municipalities and turned into a museum with 10 life-size wax figures showing how the ancient miners worked. It is now part of Madan’s mining tourism complex, together with the Spoluka museum mine, the Crystal Hall and the Mining Museum. The Bulgarian Federation of Speleology does not list Sharenka in its register, because it is a mine rather than a natural cave.
An eco-trail of about 400 m leads to the cave. In mid-2020 the cave was closed for repairs — check with Madan municipality that it is open before you go.
With children: the approach is short and the wax figures tell the story visually, so it suits children.
The start of the eco-trail is a little over 2 km from the centre of Madan.
The Spoluka museum mine and the Crystal Hall in Madan, Smolyan and Rudozem.
Smolyan region
2.1 km away
Smolyan region
2.1 km away
Smolyan region
3.8 km away
Sharenka Cave is located in Smolyan, Bulgaria.
Sharenka Cave is most easily reached by car. Use the coordinates above to navigate, or open the location in OpenStreetMap or your preferred maps app for turn-by-turn directions. Public transport options vary by region — for remote destinations a rental car gives the most flexibility.
Caves can be visited year-round — the temperature inside stays roughly 10–12°C regardless of season. Spring and autumn are quieter than peak summer. Bring a warm layer and sturdy footwear; some caves close in winter when access roads become impassable.
Access to caves varies. Show caves typically run guided tours during posted opening hours; wild caves require proper equipment and experience. Inside, the temperature stays cool year-round (~10–12°C) — bring a warm layer, sturdy non-slip footwear, and a torch even on guided tours.
