Nature attractions Brno

Brno biotope with picturesque ponds

Růženin lom is a significant landscape feature on the northeastern edge of Brno, situated on the slope of the Hády massif. It is a former limestone quarry, now partially flooded, and forms part of the Jižní svahy Hádů site of European importance. Limestone mining took place here from 1911 until 1998, and after its conclusion, the quarry transformed into a thriving biotope. The quarry contains several picturesque ponds fed by a plentiful spring, which are home to various protected animal species, including dragonflies, aquatic beetles, and amphibians. Although the quarry is officially closed to the public to protect the fragile ecosystem, it has become a popular recreational spot with a tranquil environment.

How to get there

Růženin lom is located in the cadastral territory of Maloměřice, but the nearest built-up area is the Líšeň housing estate. Access by car to the quarry gate is possible only from Líšeň, but it is formally restricted (no entry except for transport service); therefore, it is recommended to reach the quarry on foot or by public transport. Yellow and green tourist markers lead around the quarry. The quarry itself is accessible only to pedestrians, with access to the ponds possible from its southeastern edge. An educational trail also leads around the entire quarry.

What you can discover in the surroundings

Directly in the vicinity of the quarry, it is possible to walk along the Hádecké lomy a okolí educational trail, which provides information about natural, geological, and historical points of interest. A "Reed Trail" (Stezka rákosím) on a boardwalk leads around the entire Růženin lom, which was built by the Pozemkový spolek Hády to educate visitors about the ecological significance of the locality. Not far from the quarry, in the former Džungle limestone quarry on Hády, is the Lamacentrum Hády, where you can get into close contact with llamas. For hikers, the longer Cesta Stanislava Kostky Neumanna, which starts in Obřany in Brno, is also of interest.

The most massive sinkhole of the Moravský kras

Rudické propadání is a dominant karst phenomenon in the central part of the CHKO Moravský kras, not far from the villages of Rudice and Jedovnice. This is the site where the Jedovnický potok suddenly disappears underground into the limestone bedrock, creating one of the longest cave systems in the Česká republika, spanning over 13 kilometres. This system, connected to Býčí skála in the Josefovské údolí, includes a cave with a cascade of waterfalls, one of which reaches a height of up to 35 metres. Underground, one can also find the Rudická propast, which, with a depth of 153 metres, is considered the deepest dry chasm in the Česká republika, as well as the impressive space of the Obří dóm. The waters of the stream overcome a gradient of up to 90 metres underground.

How to get there

The best access is from the village of Rudice, where visitors may leave their car in the free car park and follow the green tourist trail (part of the Naučná stezka Jedovnické rybníky – Rudické propadání). The entire circular nature trail is 6.5 km to 7 km long and begins in Jedovnice. A shorter section leads directly to the sinkhole, where the terrain around the cave portal is somewhat more challenging.

What to discover in the vicinity

Right by the sinkhole, visitors will find the rock formation Kolíbky, a spot popular with rock climbers. In the village of Rudice, there is a historic brick windmill with a museum and geopark that maps the history of iron mining and glassmaking. Within easy reach are also the world-famous Propast Macocha and the Moravský kras caves open to the public, such as Punkevní jeskyně, Kateřinská jeskyně, or Sloupsko-šošůvské jeskyně. For families, a walk to the nearby Jedovnické rybníky is highly suitable.