Nature attractions Kuřim

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 deepest chasm of its kind in the Czech Republic and Central Europe, over 138.5 metres deep. This is the Macocha Abyss. It is located in the Moravian Karst (Moravský kras), near the village of Vilémovice, in the Blansko District. The abyss was most likely formed by the collapse of the ceiling of a large underground chamber of the Punkevní jeskyně, through which the Punkva river flows. Should you visit the Punkevní jeskyně, you will be able to reach not only the bottom of the abyss but also take a boat that will transport you to it.

The upper part of the Macocha Abyss is 174 metres long and up to 76 metres wide. At two points, at different levels of the abyss, two viewing bridges are available to visitors. The first dates back to 1882 and is located in the highest part. The second is 92 metres lower and was built in 1899. The entire surroundings of the Macocha Abyss have a special, almost magical atmosphere. Just as Prague has its infamous Nuselský most (Nusle Bridge), for the Blansko region, the Macocha Abyss is a typical site where dozens of people have decided to end their lives.

Even the legend associated with the Macocha Abyss has a tragic undertone. Once, in the nearby village of Vilémovice, lived a young farmer named Hálek. When his wife fell ill and subsequently died, Hálek was left alone with his young son, Martínek. As often happens, Hálek eventually remarried, and before long, his wife gave birth to a son. Then, difficult times began for Martínek. His stepmother favoured her own child and turned against Martínek. Hálek tried to help his firstborn son in secret, but it was all to no avail.

One day, when Hálek travelled to town with his younger son, the stepmother took Martínek into the forest to pick strawberries. They reached an abyss with a small lake, which was said to be so deep that it had no bottom. The stepmother sent Martínek to the very edge of the abyss, claiming that the most beautiful strawberries were there. Martínek, afraid to disobey, leaned over the abyss; the stepmother then pushed him, and Martínek plummeted into the depths. The wicked woman ran away from the abyss, but on the way home, she began to realise what she had done and returned to the site. She knew that Hálek would never forgive her for this, and she could not live in peace anyway. Therefore, she covered her eyes and jumped down into the abyss.

When the farmer returned from town and could not find his wife and the boy at home, he set out to look for them. Neighbours told him that they had gone to pick strawberries. The farmer reached the abyss, and suddenly, a great storm broke out. He was about to run and hide, but suddenly he heard a child crying. He leaned over the edge of the abyss and saw his Martínek, who, as if by a miracle, had caught onto a bush growing on the slope of the abyss. He ran for a rope and pulled the boy up. Judging by a headscarf that had also caught on the bush, he realised what had happened to his wife. Ever since, the abyss has been called Macocha (Stepmother). And it is said that during a storm, you can hear a faint crying coming from the abyss. That, they say, is the unhappy stepmother moaning.

The first to penetrate the Macocha Abyss was the team of Karel Absolon through the Punkevní jeskyně from the Pustý žleb valley, via the so-called "dry route". The first human stood there on 31 January 1914. In the 1930s, Macocha was also made accessible via the so-called "water route," along the Punkva river through the water chambers. At the bottom of the abyss, there are two small lakes – the Lower and the Upper. Beneath the Lower lake, there are further, as yet unexplored spaces. If the water level of the lake rises, for example, during persistent rain, it connects with the Upper lake. Conversely, during periods of drought, the water dries up completely.

The Macocha Abyss is certainly the most famous tourist attraction in the entire Chráněná krajinná oblast Moravský kras (Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area). For this reason, especially during the holiday season, there is a large number of tourists, and tours should be booked in advance. In addition to the Punkevní jeskyně, you can also visit the nearby Sloupsko-šošůvské jeskyně, jeskyně Balcarka, or Kateřinské jeskyně. This area is a paradise for both professional and novice speleologists.

Finding accommodation near the Macocha Abyss will be a breeze with the MegaUbytko portal. Cosy cottages, guesthouses, or apartments in the Blansko region are ready for you, and their owners and operators, known for their cordiality, will be happy to share not only the legend of the stepmother but also provide many interesting tips for trips or lesser-known places in this area. And there are truly many interesting attractions in the Blansko region. Do you not believe it? Come and see for yourself.

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.