Valečské sklepy, Natural monument and protected caves in Valeč, Czech Republic

Valečské sklepy is a set of three separate underground passages in the chateau park at Valeč, about 300 metres north-west of the chateau building. The entrances are cut into the eastern slope of a low hill of Tertiary tephrite, at 563–571 metres above sea level. The underground spaces are closed to the public and each entrance is fitted with a grille that lets bats fly through.

The underground passages were probably dug during the existence of a manor that stood here from the second half of the 13th century and burned down in the 15th century. They later served the manor brewery, which ceased operation in 1931. The Karlovy Vary regional authority declared the caves a natural monument effective 20 December 2016.

The cellars lie in the park of Valeč Castle, about 300 metres northwest of the building. They were dug as underground passages, probably already during the existence of the medieval manor that burned down in the 15th century, and later served the manor brewery until its closure in 1931. The entrances are barred to protect the bats.

The entrances lie in the castle park about 300 metres northwest of Valeč Castle, but the underground spaces are not open to the public: each entrance is fitted with a grille that lets bats fly through. Visitors can view the entrances from the park paths; the protected area covers only 38 m² within a 5.24-hectare buffer zone.

The cellars shelter a stable population of the critically endangered Barbastella barbastellus bat, recorded here together with Myotis myotis and nine other species between 2010 and 2013. The entrances are fitted with grilles that let the bats fly through.