Amatérská Cave

Amatérská Cave, in the municipality of Nové Dvory in the Moravian Karst, is the longest cave system in the Czech Republic and one of the largest in Central Europe, with more than 40 kilometres of mapped passages. Unlike the neighbouring Punkva Caves, which have run daily boat tours for decades, Amatérská Cave remains primarily a site of scientific research and speleological exploration — it opens to the public only occasionally, usually to mark anniversaries of its discovery.

Who discovered the cave, and where does its name come from?

The name says it all: on 18 January 1969, eight amateur cavers led by Jan Vít broke through into a thirty-metre dome after a year of digging — the first chamber of what is now called Old Amatérská. Divers exploring the far end of the Povodňová Passage found further spaces on 16 August the same year, now known as New Amatérská. Because ordinary enthusiasts, not professional scientists, made the breakthrough, the system became known as the "Amateur Cave."

What happened during exploration, and why is access restricted?

Exploration was halted by tragedy. On 29 August 1970, an underground flood during survey work in New Amatérská killed two cavers, Milan Šlechta and Marko Zahradníček. Work resumed in 1971, and in 1975 the system was linked, via underground watercourses, to both the Macocha Abyss and Punkva Caves. In November 2005, divers crossed a flooded passage (siphon) connecting Amatérská to the Sloupsko-Šošůvské Caves, extending the combined system by roughly six kilometres. Because large sections remain flooded or otherwise hazardous, and because of its ongoing scientific value, the cave beyond its entrance is closed to casual visitors; access is granted only occasionally, mostly for organised open days run by speleologists.

What makes it significant beyond its record length?

Besides holding the record for the longest cave system in the country, Amatérská Cave is known for archaeological finds made within its passages, which has made it a subject of study for archaeologists as well as speleologists. Ongoing scientific and rescue work in the system requires cave-diving qualifications, since a substantial part of the passages are partly or fully submerged.

Is this the same cave as Punkva Caves?

No. Although the two systems are physically connected by the underground waters of the Moravian Karst, they are distinct sites with very different visitor arrangements. Punkva Caves, also in Nové Dvory, is a show cave with a daily boat ride through the Macocha Abyss. Amatérská Cave is a closed research system that can only be entered with special permission and speleological training.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside Amatérská Cave? Not through regular tourism — access is largely limited to cavers and researchers, with the cave opened to the public only on rare occasions.

How long is the Amatérská Cave system? More than 40 kilometres of surveyed passages, making it the longest cave system in the Czech Republic.

When was the cave discovered? On 18 January 1969, by a group of amateur speleologists led by Jan Vít.

Is Amatérská Cave connected to Punkva Caves? Yes — since 1975 the systems have been linked through underground watercourses shared with the Macocha Abyss.