Jeskyně Piková dáma

Jeskyně Piková dáma (Piková dáma Cave) lies in the northern part of the Moravian Karst (Moravský kras), near the village of Holštejn, on the right slope of the Hrádek Gorge (Hrádecký, also known as Holštejnský žleb). It forms part of the Amatérská jeskyně (Amateur Cave) system — the largest cave system in the Czech Republic — and connects directly to the Křížový kluk cave and the Ledová jeskyně Staré Rasovny (Ice Cave of Staré Rasovny). The Piková dáma system alone reaches a combined passage length of 1,700 metres.

How was the cave discovered?

The cave owes its discovery to cavers who dug an artificial shaft to break through into the limestone massif. Once through the rock, they encountered massive, abyss-like chambers descending in two stages down to the flood level of the Bílá voda (White Water), 61 metres below the surface. Beyond that breakthrough point, explorers found an unexpected labyrinth of passages, shafts, lakes, domes and halls — the kind of layout typical of the region's most extensive karst systems.

What makes this cave distinctive?

The cave's standout feature is its microclimatic dynamics. Certain sections, known as the Ledová chodba (Ice Corridor), remain uniquely icy for most of the year — from spring through autumn. This effect comes from the specific air circulation within the system, which keeps parts of the cave cold enough to preserve ice long after the surface has moved into summer. Sustained seasonal ice of this kind is uncommon among the caves of the Moravian Karst.

Can visitors go inside?

No. Jeskyně Piková dáma is closed to the public, and no tourist route leads into it. The cave remains a site of ongoing speleological exploration and research; entering it requires specialised equipment and permissions held only by the cavers who conduct fieldwork there. For anyone visiting the area, the cave is best treated as a point of geological interest on the map rather than a destination to enter.

Where exactly is it located?

The cave sits within the municipality of Lipovec, at the heart of the Moravský kras Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Moravský kras) — one of Central Europe's most significant karst regions, known for its extensive cave systems, gorges and abysses. Its position near Holštejn, on the slope of the Hrádek Gorge, places Piková dáma within a stretch of terrain densely packed with caves, alongside other well-known sites in the region.

Frequently asked questions

Is Piková dáma part of a larger cave system? Yes. It forms part of the Amatérská jeskyně, the largest cave system in the Czech Republic, and connects directly to the Křížový kluk cave and the Ledová jeskyně Staré Rasovny.

How deep does the cave go? Its passages and abysses descend in two stages down to the flood level of the Bílá voda, 61 metres below the surface.

Why is it associated with ice? Because of the Ledová chodba (Ice Corridor), a section where ice persists unusually long — from spring to autumn — due to the cave's specific internal microclimate.

Can it be entered on a visit to the area? No — the cave is closed to tourist traffic and accessible only to speleologists carrying out exploration and research there.

Where does it sit relative to other Moravian Karst attractions? In the northern part of the CHKO Moravský kras, near the village of Holštejn, on the slope of the Hrádek Gorge, within the municipality of Lipovec.