Jeskyně Na Špičáku

The Na Špičáku Caves lie beneath the hill of Velký Špičák between the villages of Supíkovice and Písečná in the Jeseník area. They are the oldest documented caves in Central Europe — the first written mention of them dates back to 1430, by Antonio Walle. This exceptional history makes them not only a natural but also a cultural monument.

In the past the cave often served as a shelter, as evidenced by numerous inscriptions on its walls, the oldest dating from 1519. There are also wall paintings from the late Middle Ages up to the early 20th century, whose restoration — mostly in the central part of the cave — was completed in 2014. The cave was first opened to the public in 1884–1885, thanks to the Moravian-Silesian Sudeten Mountain Association.

The more than 400-metre-long underground labyrinth of passages and fissures is formed in Devonian marbles. Its shape was significantly influenced by meltwater from a retreating glacier, which gave the passages their characteristic heart-shaped profile. The tour route is 230 metres long and is operated by the Cave Administration of the Czech Republic. The site is protected as the Na Špičáku national natural monument.

The Na Špičáku Caves are part of the scattered Jeseník Karst, which also includes the other show cave, Na Pomezí — the two can conveniently be combined into a single trip. If you want to get to know the Jeseníky Mountains above ground too, it's worth choosing accommodation right in the region: from a peaceful base you'll have both the caves and the mountain trails within reach, with plenty of time left for the surroundings.