The Chýnov Cave

The Chýnovská (Chýnov) Cave was founded in 1863 during quarry operations. After the necessary modifications, this became the first Czech cave open to the public in 1868. The ancient stone staircases can still be visible, and the journey through the cave provides a mini-history lesson. The Chýnovská Cave evolved in phases as a result of corrosion, which expanded numerous fissures and was helped by water passing through the cracks and washing off solid particles. The cave's main treasures are no stalactites and stalagmites, but colorful walls and ceilings with white, yellow, and brown marble facets alternated with black amphibolite fillings.

These two materials are responsible for the extraordinary circular formations visible in the walls. The cave's narrow tunnels descend 41 meters to the surface of an underground stream. The whole length of the cave system, which has not yet been fully explored, is approximately 1,400 m, with 280 m presently accessible to tourists. Outside of the viewing trip, speleologists and speleo-divers are investigating the spaces, which resulted in the discovery of huge, permanently water-filled areas with distinctive druses of flintstone and other minerals in the 1980s and 1990s.

Location: Dolní Hořice, Czech Republic