Průchodnice

Průchodnice is a small but striking nature reserve in the Prostějov District of the Olomouc Region, tucked into the forests on the southern edge of the Zábřeh Highlands. It lies roughly 5.5 km north of the town of Konice, along the road connecting the villages of Hvozd and Ludmírov, close to the hamlet of Ponikev. The reserve was established by decree on 31 October 1985 and covers about 21 hectares of beech forest.

Where does the name come from?

At the heart of the reserve rises a hill also called Průchodnice (534 m above sea level), from which two rock formations built of Devonian limestone emerge from the forest floor. The larger of the two stretches about 120 meters in length and rises up to 12 meters from its base, containing three cave-like passages carved into the rock. Two of these passages run all the way through the rock mass, allowing visitors to walk straight through the stone — and it is exactly this feature that gave the site its name, which translates roughly as "the passable one" or "walk-through rock."

What is there to see?

The landscape is dominated by original beech forest mixed with vegetation typical of limestone soils, which supports a number of rare species. Among the plants growing around the rock formations are whorled Solomon's seal and several species of orchids, both favoring the calcium-rich ground. The rocks and their adjoining cave passages also serve as a winter roosting site for a protected bat species, the greater mouse-eared bat.

Why visit Průchodnice?

This is a destination for travelers looking for quiet, off the well-trodden tourist paths of Moravia. The stone gateways and cave passages hidden in the beech woods have long fed local folklore — one legend tells of a "hejkal," a forest spirit said to lure lost wanderers into a dance that leads to their doom. Whether or not visitors put stock in such tales, the geological curiosity alone — natural tunnels running clean through solid rock — is reason enough to step off the main trail.

How to get there?

The most convenient approach is via the road linking Hvozd and Ludmírov, from where a marked forest path leads to the reserve. The nearby village of Ponikev, which lends its name to the surrounding area, itself takes its name from a local phenomenon in which stream water disappears into the streambed and seeps underground — a process known in Czech as "ponikání."

Frequently asked questions

Can you walk through the caves at Průchodnice? Yes. Two of the three passages in the larger rock formation run completely through the stone mass, letting visitors walk through a natural "tunnel" in the limestone.

How big is the reserve? The reserve covers about 21 hectares of beech forest in the Zábřeh Highlands.

When was the reserve established? The Průchodnice nature reserve was created by decree on 31 October 1985.

What species does it protect? The reserve protects a winter bat roost along with rare plants, including orchids and whorled Solomon's seal, that grow on the limestone-rich soil.

Where exactly is Průchodnice located? It lies in the Prostějov District, about 5.5 km north of Konice, between the villages of Hvozd and Ludmírov, near Ponikev.