Zbrasov aragonite caves

The Zbrašov Aragonite Caves are a national nature monument located in Teplice nad Bečvou, in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. The protected area covers a hydrothermal karst site of European importance, including both the caves themselves and the surrounding forests.

How were the caves formed?

Unlike most karst caves, which are shaped solely by surface rainwater, the Zbrašov caves were created by two processes acting together: surface water and underground mineral springs rich in carbon dioxide. This combination produced a hydrothermal karst system, a rarer and geologically distinct type of formation compared to the classic karst landscapes found elsewhere. The carbon-dioxide-rich mineral water dissolved and reshaped the limestone bedrock from below, working alongside the water reaching the site from the surface.

Discovery and opening to the public

The caves were discovered in 1912, but it took over a decade before they were made accessible to the public. Visitors could first enter the caves in 1926. That gap of more than ten years suggests how demanding it must have been to prepare a hydrothermal cave system, with its unusual underground conditions, for safe public visits.

Connection to the spa resort of Teplice nad Bečvou

The caves sit right next to Teplice nad Bečvou, a village and spa resort that has long relied on the same underground mineral springs charged with carbon dioxide. The very water that carved out the cave system over a long span of time also feeds the spa treatments offered in the resort today. In this sense, the caves and the spa town represent two sides of the same geological phenomenon — one hidden underground and open to tourists, the other on the surface and used for wellness and treatment.

Why is it a national nature monument?

The national nature monument status does not apply only to the caves themselves. It protects the entire hydrothermal karst area, which is recognized as being of European importance, together with the forests surrounding it. This broader scope means the site's significance extends beyond the Olomouc Region or even the Czech Republic as a whole, and it also helps preserve the natural setting in which this unusual karst phenomenon developed.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the Zbrašov Aragonite Caves located? In Teplice nad Bečvou, in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic.

When were the caves discovered and opened to visitors? They were discovered in 1912 and opened to the public in 1926.

What makes these caves unusual? They formed through a combination of surface water and underground carbon-dioxide-rich mineral springs, creating a hydrothermal karst area of European importance — a rarer process than typical surface karst formation.

Are the caves connected to the nearby spa resort? Yes — the same carbon-dioxide-rich mineral springs that shaped the caves also supply the spa and wellness facilities in Teplice nad Bečvou.