Moravian Karst: how to get there? Photo, description. Czech Republic. Moravian Beauty Nature Reserve. What to see And you can find my other travel reviews

Excursion to two Moravian caves and relaxation in the Austrian baths Laa.

Tanya writes the reports here, and I just supplement the text with inserts, which are highlighted in green italics.

3. Moravian beauty and thermal baths Laa

On the second day in the Czech Republic we went to the caves of the Moravian Karst (Moravský kras). This complex includes more than a thousand caves, but only five of them are open to the public: Punkvennaya, Katerzhinskaya, Vypustek, Sloupsko-Shoshuvska and Baltsarka. These caves are located at a distance of about 10 kilometers from each other and each of them has convenient access by car. Visits to the caves are carried out as part of group excursions, tickets for which are best booked in advance. The official map, schematically showing the relative location of the Moravian Krasnaya objects, can be downloaded.

Unfortunately, there is no full online booking available on the Moravian Kras website. To make a reservation, you must write an email in English indicating the names and desired time of visit. In response, you will receive a booking confirmation or an offer to choose another time slot. Each cave has its own email address for booking. Here are some of them: Puncture Cave - [email protected], Slopesko-Shoshuvskaya cave - [email protected], Vypustek cave - [email protected]. Even if you do not plan to book a visit in advance, we recommend that you check the opening hours of each cave by email. It is especially important to do this if you are going to visit Moravian Krasnoyarsk during the New Year holidays: in the first days of the year, the schedule may not yet be approved and there will not be up-to-date information on the official website. In addition, some caves are closed to the public from late autumn to early spring.

The first cave we went to was Punkvennaya. You must arrive at the parking lot 40 minutes before the start of the tour (time indicated in the booking). The fact is that the cave is located some distance from the parking lot and you need to go to it by an impromptu train that runs on a schedule. During these 40 minutes, you will need to pay for tickets at the ticket office (using the name you indicated in the booking), pay for parking and get to the cave by train. Photography is not included in the ticket price and is paid separately. We arrived at 10.00 and already at 10.20 we took the train down to the cave. About 30 people attended the excursion. In summer there are many more people who want to visit the Puncture Cave, so regardless of the season it is worth booking tickets in advance.

Punkvennye caves (aka Punkevnye) - from the name of the Punkva River. The caves were mostly explored in the first quarter of the 20th century, but in some places research work continues to this day. Although the total length of the cave systems is 33 km, a much smaller area is open to the public, and the tour lasts one hour. By the way, it should be noted that excursions began to be held in 1909, and in 1920 a water part was added to the route, when tourists were seated on boats and transported through underground river labyrinths. The excursion covers 700 m of cave corridors and stairs, and another half a kilometer of water.

There are three types of tickets to the Puncture Cave. The most expensive includes a transfer to the cave on the mentioned train, as well as a funicular ride to the observation deck, which offers views of the Macocha Abyss. An average-priced ticket does not include a ride on the funicular, and holders of the simplest ticket will have to walk all the way to the cave. We bought an average-priced ticket, since the observation deck above the Macocha Chasm can be reached in 10 minutes by car on the way to other Kras caves. The mentioned funicular operates all year round.

During the excursion, we were told about the origin and study of caves and were shown the most interesting stalactites and stalagmites. It's amazing how they can turn into animal silhouettes or take the shape of buildings if you use your imagination! For example, in this photo you can see a hare sitting with its back to us and its muzzle turned around. And in the second photo you can see a bed covered with a luxurious canopy.

The photo below shows a stalactite and stalagmite stretching towards each other, which were given the name “Romeo and Juliet”. When there is water in the vaults of the cave, it slowly dissolves the limestone, and when it comes to the surface, the reverse process occurs, and the limestone partially solidifies again, forming a stalactite, and partially drips down with water and solidifies there, forming a stalagmite. Over time, they merge and form a single column - a stalagnate. So, this cave has already dried up, and Romeo and Juliet will never be destined to meet, they will forever be drawn to each other.

After talking about stalactites, the guide took us to the bottom of the Matsokha abyss (in Russian - Stepmother). The first mention of the abyss dates back to 1663, and the first historically verified descent to its bottom was carried out by a monk from the city of Brno in 1723. This is how Joseph Melnitsky describes his descent: “... thanks to the efforts of Father Lazar, on May 25, a large number of gentlemen gathered in the forest near the mentioned valley, where, in the presence of all officials, local industry workers and peasants from neighboring villages, it was proclaimed that those who had descended into the cave without coercion will receive a cash bonus. After much deliberation, one peasant from the village of Vilemovice decided to do this. After him, Father Lazarus secretly (because a clergyman is not supposed to do this) despite the fact that some officers promised to go down after Father Lazarus. abyss - they abandoned their intentions. Only one valet, Johann Zougaard, decided to do so. The two of them passed the bottom of the abyss...”

The water part of the excursion begins from the bottom of Matsokha. Tourists are led to the pier and seated on boats. Each boat has approximately 15-20 people. While sailing, they continued to tell us about cave halls and lakes and show interesting karst formations. By the way, this is not our first excursion through the caves by boat - we have already encountered this format for exploring the underground kingdom in Greece.

One of the cave halls is called the Masaryk House, in honor of the first president of Czechoslovakia. This room was discovered during exploration of the cave using explosive technology.

We were taken by boat to a pier outside the cave, and that was the end of the tour. All that remained was to climb up the stairs to the road train stop, and the guide turned around and disappeared into the depths of the cave.

Having arrived at the parking lot, we went upstairs in the car to look at the Macocha abyss from a different angle. From the parking lot next to the abyss you need to walk a little along a forest path, and in the middle of the way there is a cottage “Chata Macocha”, which houses a small hotel and restaurant. In winter the parking is free and empty, but in the summer months, according to the signs, you have to pay for it.

The abyss was named Matsokha because of the legend about the family: a widower who remarried a woman with a child, and his own son Jan. Ian was a healthy, strong child, while his half-brother was constantly ill. The stepmother disliked Jan, and when the witch grandmother told her that her own son would recover as soon as Jan died, she lured him to the edge of the abyss and pushed him down. Ian, fortunately, managed to grab onto the branches and began to call for help. Lumberjacks heard his cry and saved him. And the stepmother returned home and found her own son dead. Mad with grief, she took him in her arms, returned to the abyss and rushed down. Since then the abyss has been called Matsokha.

By the way, in the last photo you can see an asphalt terrace at the bottom of the abyss. We were there an hour ago on an excursion and photographed the lake emerging to the surface.

On the same day, we planned an excursion to the second of the five caves of the Moravian Karst open to the public - Vypustek. Upon arrival, we immediately came across sheets where travelers from different countries were noted. This cave is either not very popular among Russian tourists, or visitors are simply not included in the list. In general, there were only six of us on the excursion - three of us and three Slovaks. The guide first told them in detail in Czech, and then, briefly, in Russian. We were also given information in Russian with a detailed description of the object. It’s clear that the guide really loves this cave and talks about it with pleasure, but I liked the tour of the first cave more - perhaps just because I didn’t have to wait until they told me in Czech.

Initially, we planned to go on an excursion to the Slopesko-Shoshuvska Cave, which is visited in winter in complete darkness with flashlights. You just need to drive up to this cave 10-15 minutes before the start of the tour - parking is located right next to the entrance. But, unfortunately, just a couple of days before departure we received a letter about technical problems in the equipment of the cave and its temporary closure for an indefinite period. In this regard, we have reserved a tour of the Vypustek cave - perhaps the most unusual in content among the objects of the Moravian beauty. Near the entrance to the cave there is a small museum telling about the history of the region and local archaeological finds. It takes about 30 minutes to explore the museum without rushing.

Before the war, phosphate clay was mined in Vypustek, which was actively used as fertilizer. During mining, a huge number of bones of prehistoric animals were discovered, and the most valuable find was the bones of a cave bear that lived 15 thousand years ago. That is why in professional circles Vypustek is called the “bear cave”, and the silhouette of this animal is depicted on the cave’s logo.

In 1943, the German army occupied the dungeon and set up a factory here that produced spare parts for aircraft engines. A total of six hundred people worked at the factory. Production ceased in April 1945 when the retreating Germans blew up the factory. The photo shows the remains of a former boiler room, where coal was burned and heat was distributed throughout the entire factory through special channels located under the floor so that the temperature was maintained at 17-20 degrees.

The ventilation shaft, which served to ventilate the underground factory in 1944-1945, has survived. So far, only one floor has been cleared, and the underground levels continue to be filled with dust and debris from the explosion. The guide said that over time it is planned to open access to the lower levels, but the work is not going quickly, since the rubble has to be cleared on its own.

But first of all, the Vypustek cave is interesting because it housed a top secret Czech military facility, the existence of which only a few people knew about during the years of its operation. Even the soldiers patrolling the facility on the surface did not know what exactly they were patrolling - according to the official version, the few above-ground buildings were military warehouses. In 2001, the Ministry of Defense excluded it from the combat readiness regime and, as unnecessary, transferred it to the Administration of Caves of the Czech Republic.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1961, the cave was rebuilt as a command post, from where military operations could be directed in the event of the use of weapons of mass destruction. The facility was divided into several parts: the entrance part with a room for decontamination of people, a corridor with a bathroom, a bedroom, a logistics room, work areas for military task forces, rooms with air conditioning units and an emergency exit.

The excursion took us 1.5 hours - longer than we expected, so we decided not to waste time on lunch and go straight to the Laa Baths. It must be said that the baths are located in Austria, but since we were almost at the border, it was not far to go, about a hundred kilometers. Our path lay through the city of Brno, which we will talk about in a separate chapter, but when we were standing there at a traffic light, a man jumped out of the car from behind, seeing Russian license plates, raised his thumb, and at the next intersection stood next to him, lowered the window and joyfully said: “Hello, Russians! Happy New Year!" It was fun and enjoyable!

If you travel from the Czech Republic to Austria on road 415, you will not need an Austrian vignette. It is worth noting that parking for visitors to the thermal baths is not located on the side of the Laa Hotel, but on the eastern part of the complex. It's free and there's enough space for everyone. You won't be able to enter the complex through the hotel - we tried :)

We decided to have lunch right at the Laa Baths. In one of the reports we already talked about visiting saunas and thermal baths. I should add that this time we used the restaurant for the first time. When visiting a restaurant on site, you do not need to wear outerwear; everyone eats in swimsuits. You can wrap yourself in a towel or pareo. The food in this particular sauna is not very tasty. But the choice is large and the portions are also huge. We each took an Asian wok, but then we realized that it was quite possible to get by with one for two.

www.therme-laa.at)

The Laa thermal baths are quite small, unlike those we have already visited. There are only three pools here. There is only one in the room, with a water temperature of 34 degrees, it has access to the street. In the street part there are areas with a jacuzzi and pipes with strong water pressure, which perfectly penetrate the neck and shoulder area. Also outside there is a pool with hot salt water (its disadvantage is that it is very shallow) and another one with cold water. In my opinion, we never dared to go into the cold water, because it was already lightly frosty outside.
On the second floor of the thermal baths there is a relaxation area with sun loungers, and there are also 3-4 textile saunas (you can enter them in swimsuits), which we discovered only when it was time to leave.

(Photo from the official website of the thermal baths www.therme-laa.at)

As in many similar establishments, there is a bathhouse section, which is usually visited exclusively naked. In the bathhouse there are three saunas and a hammam. We didn't like the hammam at all. It is not decorated in any way - just bare gray stones, an unpleasant smell. We didn't linger there. Everything was fine in the saunas. We were caught twice by male regulars turning up the heat. This is a whole show! One of them was especially expressive. First, he ventilated the room, then began pouring water on the hot stones and waving a towel, periodically approaching each visitor and directing hot air at him. He did this three times. It became very hot, and at some point we couldn’t stand it and left the room, and literally everyone else came out right after us.

This time we only had 3.5 hours for the entire visit before closing. Seryozha’s mother quickly became bored with this pastime. But for us it was not even enough, and we would have gladly stayed here longer. In general, we have a dream - one day to spend the whole day in the thermal baths!

After closing, inspired and rested, we returned to the hotel and immediately went to bed, because the next day Vienna was waiting for us, to which we will devote the next two chapters of our story.

The Moravian Karst is one of the largest karst regions in central Europe. Its main attraction is the Macocha Abyss.

Next, your eyes and legs are offered a walk of one kilometer, during which you will see various bizarre figures: mushrooms, castles, long needles. And in one place, a colony of stalactites resembles wings; the guides call this figure “Angel Wings”. The journey through the caves is beautiful and mesmerizing.

Macocha Abyss

The walk ends at the observation deck of the Macocha Abyss. Many tourists are already starting to freeze by this time. And therefore, when they go out onto the site, guides always hear the same thing:
- It's finally getting warmer!
- What a beauty!

The chasm is considered the largest natural chasm in eastern and central Europe.

A legend tells how it got its name. Not far from the abyss lived a family in which there were two boys - a stepson and a son. The stepson was healthy, but the son was very sick. The mother, in search of a medicinal potion, turned to a witch, and she advised her to kill her stepson, and in return her son would recover. The woman followed this advice, went with the boy into the forest, led him to the edge of the abyss and pushed him. Returning home, she saw that her son was dead, mad with despair, she ran back to the abyss, jumped down and crashed. The stepson remained alive because he got caught on tree branches and was later found by his father. After this, the abyss began to be called Matsokha - stepmother.

You cannot travel within the reserve by car, and there are no tourist buses. Allowed transport includes a cable car and boats, and of course, your own legs.

Tourists get to the transport stop by cable car. This trip is paid, and takes a few minutes. After leaving the cabin, you will have to overcome 500 meters, where there are various cafes and snack bars.

How to get to the Moravian Karst and Macocha Chasm?

To get there on your own, you need to come from Prague to (3.5 hours by RegioJet bus), then to Blansko, the same by bus or train, about 1 hour. Look at the train schedule for the day and time you need. There you fill out a simple form, and everything you need will be displayed.

Next, bus number 226 (see the schedule) will take you to Skalny Mlyn, from where you need to walk 1.5 kilometers. The second option is bus number 232 to the stop Vilémovice, Macocha, rozc., and then walk 2 kilometers.

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In the Czech Republic there are a lot of amazingly beautiful palaces, temples and cities, various sights made by human hands. But even the brightest emotions fade over time, and perceptions become dull. In this case, the best way to avoid this is to change the environment and get new emotions, for example, to get acquainted with the sights of the country that were created by nature itself.

To renew the brightness of your emotions, you can walk through the caves or take a boat ride along the underground river. All this can be done if you visit the famous Moravian Karst caves.

Today there are four caves accessible to tourists. All cave tours usually begin in this meta. In most cases, excursions are conducted in Czech, but you don’t have to worry about this; at the box office where you buy your entrance ticket, the cashier will give you an audio guide with a booklet in Russian.

The very first you can see is the Punctual Cave, it will lead you to the Matsokha Cave, then there will be the Baltsar Cave, in which you can see what stalactites look like. In Katerzyn Cave you can see what rare stalagmites look like. The famous Vypustek cave was considered a secret military facility in ancient times. When visiting the Stolbsko-Shoshuvsky caves, you will be amazed by the huge size of the abyss.

In the caves you can wander through corridor labyrinths and gorges created by nature itself and see what stalactites look like. And another feature of the caves is that bats live in them.

In Moravian Kras everything is thought out especially for people. Cycling enthusiasts can ride on routes both easy and difficult. Hiking enthusiasts can stroll peacefully along the walking paths.

There are signs on all the paths, so you won’t get lost in the caves.

The entire territory in which the caves are located occupies about twenty-five kilometers, and the number of caves that are located in this vast territory is more than a thousand; the entire area of the Czech National Park is more than 90 kilometers. Bats live in the caves, there are a huge number of their species, and a variety of spineless animals also live next to them. And for your information, most of all the animals that live in these caves are still not studied.

Macocha Abyss

The most important asset of the Moravian Karst is considered to be the Macocha Abyss. At the very edge of this 138-meter gorge there are two specially equipped observation platforms, reminiscent of a balcony over the gorge. You can get to the upper observation deck by cable car. You will get there very quickly, but you will just have to stand in a long line to purchase a ticket and to board the funicular. At the top of the cave, the ceiling has collapsed and a piece of the sky is visible. Walking along the underground Punkva River, which flows into the lake, is extremely popular among tourists.

Moravian caves on the map of the Czech Republic

The Moravian caves are located at the following address:

South Moravian Region, Czech Republic

The length of this system is approximately 25 kilometers. These caves are the largest in Europe. They are located near the city of Brno, Prague and the city of Blansko.

How to get there from Prague

From the capital of the Czech Republic, you can get to the caves if you take a direct train that goes to the city of Blansko. You will spend about 3.5 hours on the road. Further in this city you need to change to a bus and go to the Skalny Mlyn stop, or you can use a taxi, drive close for about ten minutes.

It is best to travel to the caves from the capital by car along the E65 highway to the city of Brno, then move onto the E461 highway, then take the small road number 379 and follow the road signs to the Skalny Mlyn stop, and already on the spot you will see a parking lot where you can leave your car.

How to get there from Brno

If you are getting to Moravsko Kras, it is best for you to go first to the city of Brno, and then take the train and get to the city of Blansko. Next, change to bus number 226 and go to the Skalny Mlyn stop.

Operating mode

Excursions to the caves are conducted from March to November according to the following approximate schedule:

In March, excursions are held from Tuesday to Sunday three times a day: at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m.;
In April, tours run from Tuesday to Sunday, every hour, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m.;
In May-June, excursions take place from Monday to Sunday, from 8.20 am to 16 pm;
In July-August, excursions take place from Monday to Sunday, from 8.20 am to 16.30;
In September, tours run from Monday to Sunday, every hour, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m.;
In October, tours run from Monday to Sunday, every hour, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays there is an additional tour at 15:00;
In November, excursions are held from Tuesday to Sunday three times a day: at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m.;
In December, January, February, the entrance to the cave is closed.

Cost of visit

To get to the Baltsarka Cave you will need to pay an entrance ticket: for adults it will be 100 CZK, for people of retirement age - 80 CZK, a child ticket - 60 CZK.

Tickets to Katerzyn Cave: adults – 690 CZK, for people of retirement age – 70 CZK, children’s ticket – 50 CZK.

Tickets to the Puncture Cave: adults 150-110 CZK, elderly people - 160-90 CZK, children's ticket - 100-70 CZK.

In addition to its world-famous architecture, the Czech Republic is also known for the beauty of its nature. Therefore, to the question of what to see, here you will find many answers, moreover, already equipped for tourists to visit.

One such natural feature is the Moravian Karst, a limestone strip north-northeast of Brno. Nature and time have done their best here, and as a result, everything that tourists like so much is available - canyons, valleys, underground rivers and karst caves.

By the way, more than 1000 caves have been discovered in this natural reserve to date, and traces of Neanderthal habitation have been found in some of them. The Moravian Karst stretches for almost 35 kilometers in length and is the largest karst formation in Europe.

This natural site is also known for its unique fauna: its caves are home to more than 18 species of bats and a certain number of little-studied species of invertebrates. So lovers of mice and albino invertebrates, keep in mind: they are waiting for you there.

Among the Kras canyons, we can distinguish the Dry Trench and the Empty Trench. Also interesting is the Ruditsky Gap, in which the Edovnitska River disappears underground, gradually falling to a depth of 90 meters, returning to the light after 12 kilometers at the Bull Rock.

But the main event for all tourists who are not too lazy to come here will be a visit to the Punkevni cave. The longest underground river in the Czech Republic, Punkva, flows through this cave. Its length is about 30 kilometers. It is along this river that numerous excursions are held.

But you still have to get to the river first. And this can be done with the help of a green road train with several trailers, which runs from the village of Skalni Mlyn to the Punkevni Caves. All this is done to maintain the environment.

The hour-long tour of the Punkevni caves lasts about an hour and consists of two parts. First, you will be offered a walking route, which includes exploring the caves and visiting the bottom of the Macocha Abyss.

The second part includes motor boating on the Punkva River. In order to get into the caves from the surface, an adit was cut into the slope of the Empty Trench. Through it, all the idle wanderers enter the cave.

The temperature inside stays around 7-8 °C all year round. It is believed that the local cave air heals the heart, nerves, improves breathing and strengthens muscles, and it also charges you with love for the surrounding beauty. In a word: the Czechs are clearly mixing something into it.

The first cave is called the “ceremonial palace”, and the large stalactite at the entrance to it is called the “sentinel”. Because of its beauty, the main part of this cave space is called the “gallery”.

In the center of the cave there is a “mirror lake”, on the surface of which the splendor of stalactites is reflected. Next to the “mirror lake” there is a small podium where chamber music concerts are sometimes held.

Having finished examining the “front palace”, you will be led to the next cave along a winding passage nicknamed “siphon”. Along it you will find yourself in the Reichenbach Hall, which also has excellent acoustics, as evidenced by the song prayer “Ave Maria” flowing through the cavernous space. After passing another cave called the “back palace” and a cut passage, you will find yourself at the bottom of the Macocha abyss. Its depth is 138.5 meters.

After admiring this grandiose natural formation, through another tunnel you will go down to the water pier. From here begins the second part of the excursion, namely riding along the underground Punkva River on improvised watercraft.

The entire route is well illuminated and fully reveals the unusual beauties passing by. Each cave has piers. Here is also the most beautiful cave of the Moravian Karst nature reserve - Masaryk's Palace. In the end, the Punkva River leaves the mesmerizing dungeons, sending the annoying guests to the valley of the Empty Trench. This is where the fairy tale ends.

The second most beautiful cave is considered to be the Moravian Kras - Katerzynska Cave. It is located at the beginning of the Dry Trench, 500 meters east of the Rocky Mill. The entrance to the cave is through the so-called Gothic portal.

Taking advantage of the excellent acoustics of this cave, music and singing concerts are held here several times a year. The cave is also famous for its stalagmite formations, of which the Witch and Bamboo Forest are the most famous.

The Baltsarka Cave is famous not only for its beauty, but also for the fact that a site of ancient people was discovered in it. The time of this event is estimated at 15 thousand years ago.

Archaeologists have discovered flint weapons, spearheads, dilapidated fireplaces, bone and stone labor tools. Among the interesting things here, it is worth noting the Wilson Rotunda, the ring abysses, and the Foch Cathedral (the largest room in the cave).

Then on your way you will definitely come across the Gallery and the Natural Corridor, which are the pride of the cave. The Cathedral of Doom, which arose due to the destruction of the upper cave floors, is very interesting.

Particularly noteworthy are natural formations such as the Cactus, the Waterfall and the Madonna. The journey will end in the Research Cathedral, which is interesting for its specific limestone layer.

Where to stay.

When visiting the Moravian Karst, they usually stop either in Brno - the capital of Moravia, or in Blansko - a settlement on the border with the reserve. The following hotels in Brno have good reviews: Barcelo Brno Palace, Hotel Grandezza, Orea Hotel Voronez II, Hotel Europa, eFi Hotel, Grandhotel Brno, Hotel Fontana.

The best restaurants in Brno: Borgo Agnese, Restaurant Pavillon, La Bouchee, Vegalité, Motorest U Toma.

It is not for nothing that the unique nature is called the main treasure of the Czech Republic. One of the most beautiful places in Central Europe is protected by the state and is a hilly area of a thousand square kilometers. The largest karst massif, the Moravian Karst, is the most famous miraculous landmark of the country.

Protected area

In the protected area, scientists have discovered more than a thousand caves with traces of the life of primitive people, but only four of them, equipped and illuminated, are accessible to tourists. In the rest, only professional speleologists are allowed to enter.

Declared a nature reserve, the unique Moravian Karst is a wonderful option for exploring the natural beauties of the Czech Republic. A mesmerizing journey through the karst region will amaze you with the grandeur of the underground world.

It is noteworthy that special trains run through the protected area, delivering guests to all interesting points of the reserve.

Labyrinths of Punkva

The caves of Moravian Karst attract visitors to the Czech Republic with their unusual beauty. Mysterious grottoes, picturesque canyons, deepest chasms, and underground lakes arouse great interest among enthusiastic travelers.

The hidden labyrinths created in limestone rocks are known far beyond the borders of the country. The most popular cave is considered to be Punkva with the Macocha abyss and the river of the same name, along which rafting is organized.

Colonies of limestone formations

Discovered relatively recently by speleologist K. Absolon, who walked all the way to the end, the attraction welcomes tourists all year round. Moravian Kras (Czech Republic) is famous for a corner of amazing beauty with entire colonies. Limestone bizarre formations, similar to “Romeo and Juliet” stretching towards each other, reminiscent of a silk cape “Stole” will make the hearts of tourists beat with admiration.

Punkva is known for her most wonderful figure, reminiscent of an angel with folded wings, who protected people for a long time and became weak. Tired and having lost the ability to soar above the ground, he found his refuge in the underground galleries.

Mirror Lake

In one of the halls, an underground lake with a mirror surface, which is not disturbed by anything, reveals its charms to the guests. Inverted stalactites are reflected in the pond, and this sight is simply unforgettable. Near the lake there is a gigantic stalagmat “Salma”, delighting everyone who finds themselves in the underground kingdom with its size.

The most beautiful grotto

During the construction of artificial passages, a small grotto was accidentally discovered, decorated with teardrop-shaped and stick-shaped stalactites. Guests arrive at the hall named after it on a silently gliding boat along a dark corridor filled with water. A stop is made at the Masaryk Grotto so that all tourists can admire the limestone formations up close. The hall, reminiscent of a human dwelling, is considered the most beautiful in the cave.

Macocha Abyss

The fascinating walk ends at the bottom of the deepest Macocha abyss, which is associated with chilling ancient legends. Tourists take a cable car to the top and view the hole from the top of the mountain.

The large gorge of natural origin with Punkva has a depth of 138 meters. For guests of the reserve there are two equipped bridges, from which a charming and at the same time terrifying panorama of the abyss opens.

Katerzyn Cave

But Moravian Karst is famous not only for the underground treasures of Punkva. No less beautiful is the Katerzhinska Cave, the magnificent acoustics of which are known to all guests who arrive at the reserve. The largest “Main Cathedral” often hosts musical performances and vocal competitions.

The so-called Witch Stalagmite, shimmering in different shades in the light of the spotlights, makes an extraordinary impression. It seems as if the unusual formation really became the product of dark forces.

“Bamboo Forest” is a whole cluster of tall stalagmites, reminiscent of wild thickets. And in one cave, researchers discovered the remains of a prehistoric giant bear.

Baltsarka Cave

The Balcarka Cave, of scientific interest, is another natural attraction for which tourists rush to the Moravian Karst. Here they found the largest number of animal skeletons of the Pleistocene period, human tools made of bone and stone. Well, the main decoration of Baltsarka are numerous stalagmite laces of bizarre shapes and colors, transporting visitors to a real fairy tale.

Only here are there unique stone formations - helictites, which grow parallel to the ground.

Slopesko-Shoshuvska system

A two-tier complex of underground caves with dome-shaped arches and branching galleries attracts tourists with a special charm. Guests seem to find themselves in a magical world with bizarre formations and the quiet whisper of an underground river. But the most breathtaking sight of the Sloup-Shoshuv system is the amazing view that opens from the bridge to the bottom of the Stupnovita abyss.

Moravian Karst: how to get there?

How to get to the reserve on your own? From Prague you need to get to the city of Brno (about three hours by bus), from there by train or public transport to the village of Blansko.

Bus number 226 takes you to the Skalní mlýn stop, from there you will have to walk more than a kilometer to the reserve.

Excursions

You can take a tour to Moravský kras from different sources. For example, for a tour from Prague, including travel and sightseeing, you will have to pay about a hundred dollars per person.

You can buy tickets at the entrance to the caves before the start of the hour and a half tour (170 CZK for an adult, 40 CZK for photography). Independent travelers will have to wait until a group is formed. As experienced travelers say, Russian visitors should not have complexes, because everything that the guide says can be learned from the guidebook. The main thing is the feeling of being in the underground galleries.

Remember that you will have to pay separately for the opportunity to take photographs, but during the exciting rafting on the underground river, taking pictures is strictly prohibited so as not to blind the boatman.

All tourists agree that the Moravian Karst, the photo of which perfectly conveys the magical world of a natural wonder, is an unforgettable sight. A fascinating journey into the caves and acquaintance with the protected area leaves an indelible impression. A place that has no equal, a must-visit for everyone who is in a hurry to get there.

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