Lanovka Punkevní jeskyně - Macocha, Cable car system in Moravian Karst, Czech Republic

The Lanovka Punkevní jeskyně - Macocha is an aerial lift in the Moravian Karst, Czech Republic, linking the lower station near the Punkevní cave entrance to an upper platform at the rim of the Macocha sinkhole. The route runs through a narrow limestone gorge, climbing a notable difference in elevation along the way.

The cable car was built in 1995 to ease access to the Punkevní caves, whose passages were explored between 1909 and 1933 by Professor Absolon and his team. Before it opened, reaching the upper rim of the Macocha sinkhole required a long walk on foot.

The cable car is run by S.M.K., the company of Ivo Lachman, which also operates the Skalní mlýn hotel, the Chata Macocha lodge and the road train from Skalní mlýn. Lachman pushed the project through despite protests and was nominated for the Ropák of the Year award in 1994 for promoting it.

The ride lasts just a few minutes and is a good option for those who want to avoid the steep climb up to the gorge rim. Strong winds or storms can pause operations, so it is worth checking conditions before heading out.

The upper station sits right at the edge of the Macocha sinkhole, one of the deepest collapse dolines in Central Europe, formed when a cave ceiling gave way. From the platform, visitors look straight down into the void where the Punkva River flows through the cave system far below.