This is a short hike of 3.4 km (there and back) and 200 m ascent to the Dragon Cave (Zmejova Dupka) near the village Babino.
Babino is about a 40 minutes drive from Krushevo, where we had our base.
According to legend a beautiful girl named Bisera lived in Babino. A Dragon lived in a cave nearby and saw the Bisera during a celebration in the village. The Dragon kidnapped Bisera and took her to his cave, where she cried many tears. When the Dragon went out for hunting at night, he closed the entrance of the cave with a big stone. One day, her mother came to the entrance of the cave and told Bisera to find a way to take away the Dragons strength. When Bisera asked the Dragon what could take away his strength, he told her that salt water would petrify him. Bisera’s mother brought her salt, and on Pentecost Bisera gave the Dragon salt water to drink. Bisera ran away when the Dragon realized what had happened, but in a last effort the Dragon cursed her and they both became petrified in the cave. Even today, on Pentecost, people visit the Dragon Cave, where you can see the petrified Dragon and girl.
This story is written on an info panel near the cave, written by the writer Dobre Todorovski who lived in Babino. A broken sign in the village indicates his birth house. Another sign indicates the oldest house in the village, from 1909.
Before we went to the cave, we visited the private Library / Book Museum in Babino, the Al-Bi Library. It’s more a museum than a library because you are not supposed to borrow the books. The oldest book in the library is an Arabic dictionary from 1307. It is an impressive collection, but unless you are specifically into old books, there is not too much to see than old books.
But the owner is very passionate and told us the story behind several books (in Macedonian). There even was an old Dutch bible. The Library also has an “etno room” filled with local tools and other items that is worthwhile to see.
At the start of the trail to the cave there is a fountain/memorial for the liberation fighters. An info panel shows the trail to the cave, as well a trail called “the trail of love” which starts at the Library. The info panel also mentions that there are natural water basins for bathing wild boars along the path to the cave, which we indeed noticed on our way to the cave.
The trail to the cave is not very well marked if I recall correctly, but we used a GPS track so that was not a problem.
The Zmejovak Dupka or Dragon Cave itself has a very small opening, that just fits a person. Not recommendable for the claustrophobic (or obese). Somebody was kind enough to leave a rope tied to a tree to aid entering and exiting the cave. Once inside, you can stand up in the cave. Be careful because it is slippery. A good headlight or flashlight are a must of course. Inside the cave some broken pottery and coins left by people can be found. The water inside the cave is thought to be good for fertility I read, but I did not see a spring or something. Also, it was not clear to me which objects in the cave were representing the Dragon and the girl.
After our visit to the cave we visited the medieval St Nikola Toplichki Monastery Church from the 14th century near the village Sloeshtica (Sloestica), the church of St Dimitri from 1624 near the village Zvan (Zhvan), the Monastery of St Atanasij (St Athanasius) near the village Sopotnica (Sopotnitsa) and the 17th century Monastery of St Atanasij (St Athanasius) of Alexandria near the village Zhurche (Zurce). See the Daytrips from Krushevo for additional information. You could include a visit to the Monastery of Slepche as well.
You can view and download the GPS track of this hike here: https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/babino-zmejova-dupka-or-dragon-cave-188193061
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