cave

Teplice Cave (Teplická jeskyně) is the longest sandstone cave in the Czech Republic, hidden at the bottom of a deep canyon within the Teplice Rocks near Teplice nad Metují, in the northeastern corner of the country. Its passages are closed to visitors, but the sheer scale of this underground system beneath a sandstone rock city makes the area one of the most geologically fascinating corners of the Broumov region.

Where is the cave located?

Teplice Cave lies within the Teplice Rocks, part of the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks National Nature Reserve, itself inside the Broumovsko Protected Landscape Area in the Hradec Králové Region, close to the Polish border. The entrance sits at the bottom of a narrow, rocky canyon carved into the sandstone rock city, which for a long time made the cave difficult to locate and fully survey.

How did a cave form in sandstone?

Unlike classic karst caves carved out of limestone by dissolving groundwater, Teplice Cave is a pseudokarst cave — shaped in Upper Cretaceous sandstone by flowing water erosion and repeated frost weathering, which gradually widened and split the rock along its natural cracks. The result is a tangled maze of narrow passages and larger chambers, with a traditionally cited length of around 1,065 metres, the longest known cave system of its kind in Czech sandstone.

Why does it stay icy even in summer?

Sitting at the bottom of a deep, shaded canyon means warm surface air rarely reaches the cave's interior, creating a natural cold trap. As a result, Teplice Cave regularly develops ice formations and icicles that resemble the mineral decorations found in limestone caves, even though they form through an entirely different process. This cold, damp microclimate is one of the reasons the site draws attention from researchers studying cave speleology and underground climate.

Can visitors go inside?

No — Teplice Cave is closed to the public, and unlike Bohemia's show caves, there is no guided route through its passages. The site remains a protected research area, closed off because of the fragile rock structure and the sensitive microclimate inside. Visitors can, however, freely walk the surface trails of the Teplice Rocks, winding along the canyons and rock walls beneath which the cave system lies hidden.

What else is worth knowing about the area?

Not far away, in the Teplice Rocks section known as the Chrámové stěny (Cathedral Walls), speleologist Roman Mlejnek discovered the Poseidon cave system in 2006 during a biospeleological survey. Running for roughly 27 kilometres, it's considered one of the largest sandstone cave labyrinths in Central Europe — proof this seemingly well-known rock massif still holds underground surprises. The Teplice Rocks themselves form a sprawling sandstone rock city, with vertical walls up to 70 metres and narrow gorges between them; the marked walking loop covers roughly 6 kilometres and takes 2.5 to 3 hours, and the terrain is generally wilder and more demanding than the neighbouring Adršpach Rocks.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Teplice Cave located?

Within the Teplice Rocks, inside the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks National Nature Reserve and the Broumovsko Protected Landscape Area, near the town of Teplice nad Metují in the northeastern Czech Republic.

How long is the cave?

Its traditionally cited length is around 1,065 metres, making it the longest known sandstone cave in the Czech Republic.

How is it different from a karst cave?

It formed not through limestone dissolution but through water erosion and frost weathering of sandstone — a process known as pseudokarst.

Why does ice form inside it?

The floor of a deep, shaded canyon creates a natural cold trap, allowing ice formations to build up regularly inside the cave.

Can you go inside the cave?

No, it is closed to visitors as a protected research site. Tourists can only explore the surface trails around the Teplice Rocks.

What else has been discovered nearby?

In 2006, the Poseidon cave system was discovered in the nearby Chrámové stěny area, spanning roughly 27 kilometres of passages — one of the largest sandstone cave labyrinths in Central Europe.