Moravian karst and Blansko

Photo by Sergej Esnault

Moravian karst certainly deserves much more time than 1 day I spent there! We went for this trip from Brno but actually the nearest bigger town is Blansko. Map: http://mapy.cz/s/6KFZ

There are some good information in English about the whole area: http://www.moravskykras.net/en/moravian-karst.html

There are some good tips for hiking tours: http://www.moravskykras.net/en/nature.html

 

Extra tip: goat farm in village Šošůvka (I didn't visit but I'd like to) where you can buy some cheese etc. - and they have English website! http://www.sedlakkozy.cz/english/index.php It is app. 10 km walk from Macocha following (probably) very beautiful red trail. From Šošůvka, there are some direct buses to Blansko.

Public transport - you can take a bus from Blansko to station "Vilémovice,,Macocha rozc.2.0" - then you have to go a little back and take red trail - check map at http://mapy.cz/s/6KG9 - it is 2 km to the information centre and Macocha abyss (quite impressive look into it). Next to them, there are some possibilities to eat but it's rather dissappointing as is the service of the information centre. 

There are many possibilities what to visit but it's wise to book tickets in advance at info@caves.cz - many weeks in advance for the main season!!!! We did the most visitied tour - Punkevní cave (jeskyně). You go to the bottom of Macocha and you go an amazing boat ride in the caves - highly recommened http://www.moravskykras.net/en/punkva-caves.html. Price is 100-170 Kč adult (depending on the season), tour takes an hour. So there is enough time to visit the other caves too!

After the cave tour, we started the 10 km hike to Blansko, taking green trail (later changes to blue color at "Obůrka rozc.". I almost fall down while looking for a geocache at castle ruins Blansek (not much left there but still worth going). There is an amazing linden alley on the way to Nové Dvory. Right before entering Blansko, you can refresh in an open swimming pool (called Palava). The blue trail finishes at train station "Blansko město".

In Blansko itself, there are some things to see too:

Chateau with local museum and a parc

Building of former local company Adast, built in 1911, copying an Italian chateau in Terst

Baroque church of st. Martin

Wooden church of st. Paraskiva brought to Blansko in 1936 from Carpathian Ruthenia. Beautiful from outside too but it's also opened for public from June to September, every Wednesday and Saturday 14.00 - 17.00.

etc.