About this place
Jeskyně Na Turoldu is the largest Jurassic limestone cave system in the Czech Republic, hidden beneath Turold Hill on the edge of Mikulov, within the Turold nature reserve inside the Pálava Protected Landscape Area. It combines rare karst geology with more than three centuries of documented exploration.
How did the cave form?
The passage system was carved by underground water working through the limestone of Turold Hill, part of the wider Pálava range, over thousands of years. The result is a dense network of passages, chambers and domes arranged on seven levels, making it one of the most intricate karst systems in the country. Jeskyně Na Turoldu itself runs for about 1,650 metres with a total elevation difference of 47 metres, and together with the neighboring Liščí díra cave it forms a labyrinth of more than 3 kilometres of passages.
What is the history behind its discovery?
The oldest known record of caves at Turold dates to 1669, when a Latin medical treatise by Jan Ferdinand Gert, a Mikulov native, described fossil bones found in the karst passages of the hill. The site remained of interest to researchers over the following centuries, but it was only in 1951 that a surviving remnant of the earlier, destroyed Turold cave was discovered — about 400 metres of passages, halls and domes, which was named Jeskyně Na Turoldu. It was open to the public from 1958 to 1967, then closed. Following an extensive renovation, the cave reopened to visitors in May 2004 and has operated in that form ever since.
What should visitors know about Turold Hill?
Turold Hill, where the cave lies, sits on the outskirts of Mikulov and is protected as a nature reserve within the Pálava Protected Landscape Area. That protection has kept the karst landscape largely intact despite the hill rising almost directly above the town.
Who is this destination for?
Jeskyně Na Turoldu appeals to anyone interested in geology, karst formations or the history of natural-science discovery in South Moravia. With its multi-level passage system and long research history, it ranks among the more notable speleological sites in the Pálava region — a worthwhile stop alongside Mikulov's vineyards and historic town center.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jeskyně Na Turoldu the largest cave in the Czech Republic? It is the largest Jurassic limestone cave system in the country, formed within the limestone of Turold Hill; together with the Liščí díra cave it forms a labyrinth of more than 3 kilometres of passages.
How long is the cave itself? Jeskyně Na Turoldu runs for about 1,650 metres across seven levels, with a total elevation difference of 47 metres.
When was the cave opened to visitors? After the surviving remnant was discovered in 1951, it was open to the public from 1958 to 1967. Following years of closure and renovation, it reopened in May 2004.
Where does the oldest mention of the Turold caves come from? From 1669, in a Latin medical treatise by Jan Ferdinand Gert, a Mikulov-born author who described fossil bones found in the hill's karst passages.
Where exactly is Turold Hill located? On the edge of Mikulov, within the Turold nature reserve, part of the Pálava Protected Landscape Area.
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