The Macocha Abyss is 138.5 metres deep (to the surface of the Lower Lake, with exploration reaching a total depth of 187.5 m), and at 174 × 76 metres it’s the deepest “light hole” abyss in Central Europe — meaning it’s wide enough for daylight to reach the bottom. Access to both viewing bridges is free year-round, with no booking required. You only pay for parking (around 100 CZK/day — approx. €4 — this is an approximate conversion; exchange rates fluctuate), or for the cable car or tourist train if you’d rather not walk.
QUICK LINKS 📏 Dimensions and how the abyss formed · 👻 The legend of Macocha · 🚶 How to reach both bridges · ❓ FAQ
Macocha is the calling card of the entire Moravian Karst — the image you’ll recognise from postcards long before you’ve even set foot in the region. And unlike the caves, visiting both viewing bridges is completely free, making it the perfect first stop on day one.
Dimensions and how the abyss formed
The abyss measures approximately 174 metres in length and 76 metres in width, with a depth of 138.5 metres down to the surface of the Lower Lake. Further underground spaces continue beneath the lake’s surface, explored so far to a total depth of 187.5 metres. Thanks to its generous dimensions, daylight reaches all the way to the bottom, placing it in the category of so-called “light hole” abysses — and within that category, it’s the deepest in Central Europe.
It was most likely formed by the collapse of the vault of a huge underground chamber — the floor is still partly covered today by debris from the fallen ceiling.
The walls of the abyss are also home to a surviving population of Matthiola’s stock (kruhatka Matthioliho), a plant that grows nowhere else in the Czech Republic. You can find out more about it and other rare plants of the karst in the article Flora of the Moravian Karst.
In technical terms, it’s a “light hole” type of abyss, formed by the collapse of the ceiling of a large underground chamber, and the walls of the abyss conceal a number of further caves. You can find an overview of the karst features in the article Karst Features of the Moravian Karst.
The legend of Macocha
The abyss’s name is linked to a folk legend about a farmer called Hálek, whose first wife died and left him with two sons. When he remarried, his new wife harboured nothing but hatred for the elder son, Martin. One day, while the father was away at market with the younger boy, the stepmother lured Martin to the abyss under the pretext of picking strawberries and pushed him in. By some miracle, the boy became caught in the branches of a pine tree, and his father found him alive upon returning. Wracked with guilt over what she had done, the stepmother lost her mind and threw herself into the abyss — hence its name today (macocha means “stepmother” in Czech).
How to reach both bridges
You can reach the car park by the abyss via the access road from Vilémovice, about 10 km east of Blansko. If you’re travelling without a car, take the train to Blansko and continue from there on bus No. 232 to the Vilémovice, Macocha rozc. stop, or on bus No. 226 to Skalní Mlýn and then take the cable car up to Macocha from the Punkva Caves.
The abyss has two viewing bridges:
- Upper Bridge (built in 1882) — just a 5-minute walk from the car park, the highest vantage point, from which you can see the whole abyss.
- Lower Bridge (built in 1899) — 92 metres above the abyss floor, a 13-minute walk (326 m) along the yellow trail and concrete staircase; the view straight down to the bottom is best from here.
Since 1995, a cable car has also connected the Punkva Caves (Punkevní jeskyně) with the Upper Bridge and the Macocha chalet (120 CZK one way / 160 CZK return, not running in January and February), so you can combine a tour of the Punkva Caves with the climb up top without having to tackle the stairs. There’s also a tourist train running from Skalní Mlýn (110 CZK one way / 150 CZK return).
Parking at both Skalní Mlýn and the abyss is chargeable, at 150–200 CZK per day — but access to both bridges themselves is free year-round, with no booking needed. Note: the car park at the Upper Bridge has restricted opening hours, and releasing your car from behind the barrier after closing time costs 500 CZK.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy a ticket to visit Macocha? No, entry to both viewing bridges is free year-round with no booking required. You only pay for parking, or for the cable car/train if you choose to use them.
Which bridge is better — Upper or Lower? The Upper Bridge offers a wider view over the whole abyss, while the Lower Bridge (92 m above the floor) gives you the best view straight down. Ideally, visit both — the walk between them takes around 13 minutes.
Can I get to Macocha without a car? Yes — take the train to Blansko, then bus No. 232 (Vilémovice, Macocha rozc. stop) or No. 226 to Skalní Mlýn.
How deep is Macocha compared to other abysses? 138.5 m to the lake’s surface, with exploration reaching 187.5 m in total — within the category of abysses that let in daylight, it’s the deepest in Central Europe.
Part of the series A Week in the Moravian Karst: A Complete 7-Day Itinerary, following on from The Punkva Caves. Sources: propast-macocha.cz – points of interest, Czech Cave Administration – Macocha Abyss, Kudy z nudy. Prices and opening hours are subject to change — we recommend checking the official websites before travelling.
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