Cerovačke špilje commemorated Nikola Turkalj and valuable historical material on the occasion of the 113th anniversary of the discovery of Lower Cerovačke špilje, which was found on 30 October 1913. It is one of the most famous underground natural treasures of Lika.
The discoverer of Lower Cerovačke špilje was Nikola Turkalj, a Croatian civil engineer who at the time was involved in the construction of the Lika railway line on the Gračac – Knin section. During the works, he discovered the entrance to a previously unknown cave, which was later named Turkalj's cave after him. Turkalj was also the organiser of the trails and the protector of the cave.
Nikola Turkalj was born on 17 May 1886 in Cvitovići near Slunj, and graduated in 1912 from the Higher Technical School in Budapest. That same year, he was employed by the Joint Stock Company for the Construction of the Lika Railway Line. During the First World War, he was mobilised, and in 1918 he returned to Lika as the head of the Directorate of Construction of the Lika Railways. Later, he worked as an independent authorised engineer and chief engineer on various railway projects in Croatia and abroad.
In addition to his engineering work, Turkalj was also involved in writing and published professional articles on the Lika railway line and railway issues. He also participated in the arrangement of trails and the protection of caves. In 1996, a commemorative bust was erected for him at the railway station in Gračac.
Cerovačke špilje are located on the north-eastern slopes of Crnopac, on the southern Velebit, about four kilometres from Gračac. They consist of Lower, Middle and Upper Cerovačke špilje, and the cave complex has more than eight kilometres of explored underground channels. The caves are known as one of the largest sites of cave bear remains in Croatia. Lower and Upper caves are arranged for tourist visits, and tours are possible with the accompaniment of a guide. The interior of the caves maintains a temperature of approximately seven degrees throughout the year.
Slavko Mihalić also wrote about the beauty of the caves, publishing an article titled "Desecrated Jewels" in Ličke novine on 1 September 1954. In the article, he described the beauty of the caves, warned about the destruction of cave decorations, and called the caves "Plitvice Lakes in stone".
