Moravian Karst

The Moravian Karst, north of Brno, is a limestone landscape riddled with over a thousand caves and sinkholes. Its highlights are the Punkva Caves, explored partly by boat on an underground river, and the Macocha Abyss, a vast collapsed sinkhole nearly one hundred and forty metres deep that the boat trip passes beneath, viewed from platforms above.

Background

The protected landscape area covers roughly 92 km² in the South Moravian Region and holds roughly 1100 caverns and gorges. As of 2025, five cave systems take public tours: the Punkva Caves, discovered by Karel Absolon, plus Balcarka, Kateřinská and Výpustek caves and the Sloupsko-šošůvské Caves with Kůlna Cave. Others, among them Amatérská Cave and Býčí skála Cave, are open only for scientific exploration. The Macocha Abyss, 138 m deep, formed when the roof of a cave chamber fell in, and it is where the Punkva River goes underground, with two small pools visible at the surface. Marked cycling and hiking routes cross the area above ground. A UNESCO World Heritage nomination was reported as planned in October 2025.

Source: Wikipedia, "Moravian Karst"

What's there

• The Punkva Caves - the decorated caves, part explored by boat on an underground river.
• The Macocha Abyss - the great collapsed sinkhole seen from below and above.
• The cave formations - the stalactites and stalagmites of the underground halls.
• The forest and gorges - the karst landscape above ground.

When to go

The warm months, when the caves, boat trips and cable car run; the caves are cool year-round, so bring a layer. Book cave tours ahead in the busy season.

Things to know

The caves are seen only on guided tours that book up, and the boat trip is short. It is cool underground even in summer. It is a popular day trip from Brno, so it can be busy.

Nearby

Brno, the Moravian capital, is close; the South Moravian wine country spreads south.

Key facts