Balcarka Cave is widely regarded as one of the most richly decorated caves in the entire Moravian Karst — a dazzling underground world packed with stalactites, stalagmites and delicate straw formations at almost every turn. Tucked into the rocky meander of Suchý žleb valley, it is one of only five caves in the Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area open to the public.
The entrance itself sets the tone: a graceful arched portal measuring 6 m wide and 5 m tall is carved into the slope of Balcarova skála and is clearly visible from the surrounding landscape. Inside, a maze of corridors unfolds across two levels, linked by grand halls, domes and chimneys. The largest space is the Great Dome — 65 m long, up to 25 m wide and 10 m high — while the Gallery on the upper level is considered the most spectacular room of all, draped in stalactites, stalagmites and columns. The cave's unofficial mascot is the Handžar stalactite, curved like a Turkish sabre by a combination of dripping water and draught. The original was stolen during early tourism operations, and today's visitors admire a faithful replica. Around 700 bats and horseshoe bats hibernate here each winter, making Balcarka an important sanctuary for these protected species.
How to get thereThe cave was discovered in 1923 when workers felt a mysterious draught coming from a crack in the rock face — a small detail that led to the unveiling of one of Moravia's greatest natural treasures.