Rytířská jeskyně

Rytířská jeskyně (Knight's Cave) is one of the most distinctive caves of the Moravian Karst and one of the very few sites in the Czech Republic that served a defensive purpose during the Middle Ages. It lies in the Suchý žleb gorge, roughly 300 metres southeast of Kateřinská jeskyně, close to the town of Blansko in the South Moravian Region. The cave sits within the Vývěry Punkvy National Nature Reserve and is known for having one of the most massive entrance portals anywhere in the region.

What does the cave look like inside?

The entrance portal was shaped by frost weathering and measures roughly 17 metres in height and 13 metres in width, making it one of the largest cave openings in the entire Moravian Karst. Behind the portal lies a single, dome-shaped chamber that rises gently into the hillside and stretches for almost 50 metres. Vegetation grows along the walls, and thanks to the sheer size of the entrance, daylight reaches deep into the interior — a feature that sets Rytířská jeskyně apart from the typical dark limestone caves of the region.

Why is it called a "cave castle"?

Rytířská jeskyně is a unique example in the Czech Republic of a so-called "jeskynní hrad", or cave castle — although researchers stress that it functioned more as a guard post than a conventional castle. Deep inside the portal, remains of a "parkán" survive: a fortified rampart about 6 metres wide, built from two parallel walls with open space between them. This arrangement let defenders control access to the interior while keeping watch over a medieval route passing nearby. Archaeological research dates the origin of this fortification to the 13th century, and the site was abandoned in the 15th century. It served this defensive role for roughly two centuries.

What have archaeologists found here?

Human use of the shelter beneath this enormous portal goes back far earlier than the medieval period. Between 1939 and 1940, Karel Absolon, the noted Czech researcher of the Moravian Karst, uncovered a Palaeolithic station here that yielded numerous notable finds. That discovery shows the cave's vast entrance was already drawing people long before the medieval walls were ever built.

Can visitors go inside?

Rytířská jeskyně is not open for public visits. It lies within the quiet zone of the Vývěry Punkvy National Nature Reserve, where leaving the marked trails is prohibited. The cave can only be viewed from the outside, from the marked paths running through the Suchý žleb gorge. There is no admission fee for viewing the site from the trail. For tourist information about the Moravian Karst, the Skalní mlýn information centre can be contacted at +420 516 413 575 or [email protected].

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Rytířská jeskyně located? In the Suchý žleb gorge in the Moravian Karst, about 300 metres southeast of Kateřinská jeskyně, near the town of Blansko.

Can you enter the cave? No — it lies within the protected quiet zone of the Vývěry Punkvy National Nature Reserve and is closed to visitors. It can only be seen from a marked trail nearby.

Why is it known as a "cave castle"? Because of the surviving defensive rampart (parkán) built inside its portal — from the 13th to the 15th century the cave functioned as a guard post overlooking a medieval route.

How big is the cave? The entrance portal is about 17 metres high and 13 metres wide, and the single chamber behind it extends for almost 50 metres.

Is there an entrance fee? No, viewing the cave's exterior from the trail is free of charge.