Moravian Karst

Jana Kročilová

Moravian Karst

• Moravian Karst – one of the most important karst area of Central Europe near Brno. More than 1100 caverns and gorges, but only 4 caves are open to public. They are:

• Punkva Caves (Punkevní jeskyně)• Catherine’s Cave (Kateřinská jeskyně) • Balcarka Cave (Jeskyně Balcarka)• Sloup-Šošůvka Caves (Sloupsko-šošůvské jeskyně)• Very remarkable for all visitors is view to Macocha Abyss

from two platforms – the Upper and the Lower foot bridge.

Punkva Caves

• the main entrance is about 2 km distant from Skalní mlýn (Rock Mill)

• unique stalactite domes• a romantic water cruise on the underground River Punkva • a possibility to be on the bottom of the Macocha Abyss

Macocha Abyss

• 138 m deep, the upper part is about 174 m long and 76 m wide

• two platforms: Upper Bridge (1882) and Lower Bridge (1899), 92 m above the bottom of Macocha

• created by fall of ceiling of huge cave hole

• the River Punkva is rising here and fills up two small lakes called Horní (Upper – 13 m deep) and Dolní (Lower – 30 m deep)

Macocha Abyss legend from 17th century

In the village of Vilemovice once lived a widower with his son. He married a second time and his little son got a step mother.

In time, the woman gave birth to her own child and wanted to get rid of the stepson. She asked him to join her in collecting the fruits of the forest. As they came close to the very edge of the abyss, the woman threw her stepson down into the depth.

However, the boy was spared from death by being caught on extending tree branches. Wood cutters, working nearby, heard the desperate cries, and saved the boy. Upon hearing the tales of the wood cutters, the village people of Vilemovice threw the step mother over the abyss.

Since that day the abyss has been called Macocha, the Czech word for stepmother.

Balcarka Cave

• breathtaking labyrinth of corridors, domes and underground temples with gorge and full-colour stalactitic decoration

Catherine´s Cave

• about 500 m far from Skalní mlýn (Rock Mill)

• a part of prehistorical outgoing water cave with traces after water stream on its wall

• very reach as a locality of Pleistocene animals – mostly bears

• open to public from 1910

Sloup-šošůvka Cave

• a large complex of domes, corridors and huge underground gorges created in two levels

• the hall called Eliščina jeskyně (Elizabeth’s Cave) is known for its perfect acoustic

• a good place for concerts of chamber music