Moravian Karst

The Moravian Karst, located north of Brno, is the most significant karst region in Czechia, encompassing over 1,100 known caves. Since 1956, the area has been protected as a landscape reserve, attracting researchers and tourists alike. Among its most famous attractions are the Punkva Caves, where visitors can take an underground boat ride on the subterranean Punkva River. A standout highlight is the Macocha Abyss, a 138-meter-deep sinkhole, which is the largest of its kind in Central Europe. The cave systems house impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations, created over millennia through limestone dissolution. Ecologically, the region is of international importance as a hibernation site for numerous bat species. On the surface, the landscape is defined by deep gorges, limestone cliffs, and dense beech forests, accessible via a wide network of marked hiking trails. The Moravian Karst combines geological wonders with rich biodiversity, serving as a key location for European speleological research.

Nearby cities

Brno

Brno is the historic center of Moravia and the second-largest city in the country, known for the Špilberk fortress and modernist architec…

Ostrava

Ostrava is located in the east of the country near the Polish border and was formerly a major center for coal mining and steel industry.

Olomouc

Olomouc is a historic city in Moravia known for its Baroque architecture, numerous fountains, and religious significance.

Hradec Králové

Hradec Králové is a city in eastern Bohemia at the confluence of the Elbe and Orlice rivers, known for its modern urban planning from the…

Pardubice

Pardubice is a major industrial and transport hub in eastern Bohemia, widely known for its traditional gingerbread and horse racing.

Zlín

Zlín is a modern industrial city in eastern Moravia, strongly shaped by the functionalist architecture of the Baťa shoe corporation.

Opava

Opava is the historical center of Czech Silesia, known for its rich cultural tradition and Neo-Gothic architecture.

Frýdek-Místek

Frýdek-Místek was formed by the unification of two towns on the border between Moravia and Silesia, separated by the Ostravice River.

Jihlava

Jihlava is the administrative center of the Vysočina Region and a former free mining town that grew wealthy in the Middle Ages from silve…

Prostějov

Prostějov is a city in the Olomouc Region, historically known for its textile and clothing industry as well as its Jewish history.

Přerov

Přerov is a major railway junction in Moravia and is known for its archaeological finds from the mammoth era.

Třebíč

Třebíč is a historic city in the Vysočina Region, known for its exceptionally well-preserved Jewish quarter and Romanesque basilica.

Třebíč Jewish Quarter

One of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Šumperk

Šumperk is located in the Desná valley in the Jeseníky Mountains and is a regional hub often called the 'Gateway to Jeseníky'.

Kroměříž

Kroměříž is a Moravian city known as the 'Athens of Haná' because of its magnificent archbishop's residence and gardens.

History & landmarks

Znojmo

A historic royal town perched above the Dyje River, famous for its medieval fortification, vast underground labyrinth, and wine.