From Jedovnice to the Moravian Karst

Our trip begins in the village of Jedovnice. In the village, we can use the Olšovec pond for rest and recreation. From Jedovnice, we follow cycle route no. 5079 through Kotvrdovice, a village with a sports airfield. From Kotvrdovice, we take cycle route no. 5079A, and at the Zálomí crossroads, we turn left again onto cycle route no. 5079.

We pass through the Krasová Valley, where the Krasovský stream flows, merging with several creeks in the territory of the village Krasová. At the touch of Balcar Rock, where the Balcarka Cave is accessible, the stream sinks underground and joins the waters of the Lopač stream, continuing underground towards the sinking river Punkva. The five-meter-high entrance to the Balcarka Cave has been known since ancient times. Finds include fireplaces and various tools from the Older Stone Age and bones of Quaternary animals. The stalactite decoration of the cave is one of the most beautiful among the Czech caves accessible to the public. 

We continue to Ostrov u Macochy. Interesting is the Dutch-type windmill northwest of the village center above the former lime kiln. The exterior of the mill is preserved, and the mill dates from around 1865. The village also has a children's sanatorium focused on rehabilitation and improving physical condition, which takes place in the local Imperial Cave. In front of the church is the so-called Ostrov sinkhole closed with a grille, and in the southern part of the village is the sinking of the Lopač stream.

From Ostrov, we continue along cycle route no. 5 to the village of Sloup. On the outskirts of the village is the Hřebenáč rock and the accessible Sloup-Šošůvka Caves with the world-famous Eliška Cave, the Svícen stalactite, and the Kůlna Cave. From Sloup, we ride through the massive karst gorge Pustý žleb, 7 km long. In its middle and lower parts, it has the character of a wild canyon, carved into limestone, with vertical rock walls and numerous meanders. About 450 caves occur here at three elevation levels, including the Punkva caves. 

The Punkva Caves, discovered in 1909 in the lower part of Pustý žleb, are the most visited in the Czech Republic. A massive system of corridors and domes richly decorated with stalactites was formed by the underground Punkva river. The tunnel-like corridors lead to the bottom of the world-famous Macocha Abyss. The tour includes an attractive boat ride on the surface of the Punkva, called the Macocha water domes. It is better to book the boat trip by phone in advance. We travel through the karst valley Suchý žleb along cycle route no. 5. From the accessible caves, we can also visit the Kateřinská Cave with excellent acoustics of the main dome, occasionally used for singing and music concerts. At the cycle route crossroads, we turn right onto cycle route no. 507 and return to Jedovnice along it.