Reconstruction of the Balcarka Cave

After two years of reconstruction, the Balcarka Cave has been reopened in the Moravian Karst since July 2009.

The Balcarka cave is situated in a picturesque karst valley near Ostrov u Macochy. It offers the richest display of stalactites in all of the five publicly accessible karst caves. The underground labyrinth has two floors.
The entrance portal of the cave is a significant paleonthological and archaeological locality with a discovery of bones of Pleistocene animals, stone and bone instruments and fireplaces of people of the Early Stone Age.
These caves have an unique, very rich, varied and colourful stalactite and stalagmite decorations. Straight ceilings, resulting from separating of limestone, decorate a lot of long quills and baculiform stalactites. The walls are covered with rough sintered flows or warted sinter. From the ground there are growing conical stalagmites of different shapes and sizes.
The parts called “Gallery” and “Natural corridor” are among the most beautiful sights of the Moravian Karst. Remarkable are also the circular abysses, the “Rotundas”.

The part of the reconstruction was an extension of entry to the cave, surfacing of all the sidewalks and better lighting. A part of a railing was removed and visitors have stalactites within reach. Alarm device of photocell protects them from a destruction.
In addition, a new museum dedicated to the history of Balcarka Cave and to speleological exploration, was established.