Novodvorsky ponor

Novodvorský ponor is a sinkhole where a stream disappears underground on the Skalka plateau in the southern part of the Moravian Karst, between the villages of Březina and Ochoz u Brna and the hamlet of Nový Dvůr. It is one of the region's lesser-known but geologically interesting karst features, leading to a cave 20 metres deep with an explored length of 40 metres, known to speleologists as Jeskyně Ponorný Hrádek.

Where is Novodvorský ponor located?

The sinkhole lies on the Skalka plateau, which rises to about 478 metres above sea level, within the Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area. The plateau sits between Březina, Ochoz u Brna and Nový Dvůr, in the Říčka river catchment known as Povodí Říčky. About 50 metres from the ponor is a small cave called Ve Skalce, only around 5 metres long, formed by water seeping along a tectonic fracture.

How were the sinkhole and cave discovered?

The Ve Skalce cave and the sinkhole itself were discovered in 1951 by Ladislav Slezák. The find entered speleological literature in 1967 through the work of Jan and Petr Himmel. The first systematic field research was carried out in 1983 by the Speleohistorický klub Brno (Brno Speleo-Historical Club), which still oversees the site today; the club built a research base nearby in 1992. The breakthrough came in May 1990, when cavers widened an exploratory probe, cleared accumulated sediment, and broke through into previously unknown open spaces. The newly found passages were published in 1994 under the name Jeskyně Ponorný Hrádek, with a documented length of 40 metres.

How does this karst system work?

Novodvorský ponor forms part of the wider underground drainage network of Povodí Říčky, which includes roughly a hundred documented caves along the Říčka valley. Water from the Hostěnický stream, draining a catchment of about 7.5 square kilometres, joins underground with water from the Hádecký ponor near the Lysá hora hill, forming a combined underground stream. During high water, the surplus is carried off through the area's most significant cave, Ochozská jeskyně, which acts as a flood outlet. The whole system eventually resurfaces at the Výtok Říčky springs. No dye-tracing tests have been carried out so far, so the exact underground path taken by the water sinking at Novodvorský ponor has not been conclusively confirmed.

Can the sinkhole and cave be visited?

The cave itself, inside the sinkhole, is not open to visitors — it remains a research site under the care of the Speleohistorický klub Brno. The location can, however, be seen from the surface by hiking in along the green-marked trail from Hádek; parking for visitors to the area is available near the Pod Hádkem hunting lodge. Because of the terrain, the site is not wheelchair accessible.

Why visit the Skalka area?

The Skalka plateau and the neighbouring Říčka valley are among the quieter but geologically rich corners of the Moravian Karst. Dozens of other caves lie within a few kilometres, including the well-known Ochozská jeskyně, through which the underground Hostěnický stream flows during periods of high water. This is a destination for visitors interested in geology and the history of cave exploration rather than a fully developed tourist route with visitor infrastructure.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Novodvorský ponor?

On the Skalka plateau in the southern Moravian Karst, between Březina, Ochoz u Brna and the hamlet of Nový Dvůr.

Can the cave inside the sinkhole be visited?

No, it is a research site not open to the public, managed by the Speleohistorický klub Brno.

How deep is the cave in the ponor?

It is 20 metres deep, with an explored length of 40 metres so far.

When was the sinkhole discovered?

In 1951, by Ladislav Slezák; the newer passages of the cave were only discovered in May 1990.

How do you get to the sinkhole?

On foot via the green-marked trail from Hádek; parking is available near the Pod Hádkem hunting lodge.