Balcarova skála – Vintoky is a nature reserve on the southern edge of the village of Ostrov u Macochy, right where the limestone Moravian Karst meets the non-karst rocks of the Drahany Highlands. It's a place packed with karst phenomena both above and below ground, from sinking streams to caves lined with striking dripstone decorations.

The landscape here is a mix of limestone outcrops, sinkholes and karren fields, with the south and southwest slopes around the Balcarova skála promontory retaining their old steppe-forest character thanks to historical deforestation. Spring brings rare wildflowers into bloom, summer buzzes with insects and birdlife, and in winter the caves become a refuge for hibernating bats. It's a quiet, scenic corner of the karst where sunny open slopes sit right next to dark cave entrances.

How to get there

• Parking near the publicly accessible Balcarka Cave - red-marked trail, easy route connecting both parts of the reserve
• Bus stop Ostrov u Macochy, Balcarka on the line Blansko - Šošůvka - Vysočany, right by the parking area

Practical information

• The reserve consists of two separate parts divided by road No. 373 between Vilémovice and Ostrov u Macochy
• Visitor number limits apply, along with restricted access during winter
• Vintoky and Šamalíkovy caves are not open to the public - only Balcarka Cave can be visited
• The site is an important hibernation site for protected bat species, including the lesser horseshoe bat

A fascinating detail is the presence of the very rare Apamea illyria moth, found here at only a handful of sites in the whole of the Czech Republic - a real treat for visiting entomologists.