Kateřinská jeskyně and the gorges of Suchý Žleb  – an easy walk from Skalní Mlýn: up to 7 km

• The Kateřinská jeskyně (Catherine’s cave) , located just a just walk from the hamlet Skalní Mlýn in the limestone area of Moravský kras, is one of only 14 show caves open to the public in the Czech Republic. Its huge main dome is the largest underground space open to the public in the country. The cave has superb acoustics and is occasionally used for concert performances. As with many of the accessible caves in Moravský kras, Kateřinská jeskyně is the site of important archeological finds, including the earliest proven cave paintings in the country, created from charcoal and recently assessed to date from the neolithic period (approximately 6200 years ago).
• Kateřinská jeskyně lies at the far end of the scenic Suchý Žleb canyon, which is lined with smaller caves, including the Knight’s cave – the only known medieval fortified cave in the country. An asphalt cycle path (not accessible for public motor vehicles) runs from Skalní Mlýn along the canyon and thus creates the opportunity for an easy, stroller friendly, walk in the extraordinary limestone countryside.
• Kateřinská jeskyně is reached within 500m of the parking area (bus stop) but the car free trail continues for a further 3 km through the gorge. The return is along the same path. If continuing the full length of the trail (until reaching the public road up to Macocha) there is a total of just over 100m height difference.
• At the conclusion of the walk (or start) take a moment to visit the House of Nature, next to the Skalní Mlýn parking areas. This houses an excellent exhibition covering the story of the Moravian limestone landscape. Refreshments are available at Skalní mlýn, and in the café at the museum. This short walk can be combined into a longer tour by also visiting the Punkva vallez and Macocha abyss. For details of this walk – which also starts in Skalní Mlýn, see this page.

Note: click ‘Show on Mapy.com’  to go to a full screen version of the route directly on the mapy.com site. This can be used for on line navigation, saved or exported as a GPX file.

Directions

• Start at the car park in Skalní Mlýn. There is also access to the starting point by bus from the town of Blansko
• From the car park, walk past the House of Nature museum and join the GREEN hiking trail in the direction of Kateřinská jeskyně. The cave entrance is quickly reached
• Continue on the same trail through the canyon for a maximum of 3.5 km (until reaching the public road leading up to Macocha). Return back along the same trail