Moravský kras, Protected karst area in South Moravia, Czech Republic
Moravský kras is a karst region in South Moravia defined by limestone cliffs, deep gorges, and sinkholes scattered across its landscape. The area holds over a thousand registered cave systems, with five open to visitors that display different underground formations and geological features.
Moravský kras was declared a protected landscape area in 1956, the third large nature reserve in Czechoslovakia after the High Tatras and Bohemian Paradise. Its caves have yielded evidence of human presence since the Stone Age, including the famous Venus of Věstonice figurine found in the region.
The name comes from the karst limestone landscape, and the reserve's caves have yielded evidence of prehistoric settlement. At the Kateřinská Cave visitors can see formations named for their shapes, while the nearby village of Křtiny has long been a pilgrimage destination. The Jedovnice area hosts traditional glassmaking and ironworking heritage tied to the local forests.
The five open caves are scattered across the area and require different access routes depending on their location and type. The best way to explore this region is by car or hiking, as the caves are not concentrated in a single location.
One of the country's longest caves, the Amatérská Cave, is located here and draws cave enthusiasts and curious visitors. Its underground network reveals complex geological structures that have fascinated researchers for generations.
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