Cave in the Křtiny Valley
The Výpustek Cave is located in the Moravian Karst in the upper part of the Křtiny Valley, not far from the village of Křtiny. It was formed by the water flow activity of the Křtinský stream and its tributaries. It is located north of Brno, near Adamov, 300 meters (~328 yd) from the Březina, jeskyně Výpustek stop. The air temperature and humidity are similar to those of the Punkva Caves and Catherine Cave, which I visited in recent weeks, so an average of 7–9 °C (45–48 °F) with a relative humidity of 95%. The length of the tour is 600 m (~656 yd), 13 stairs and the duration is approximately 75 minutes.
The Underground Shelter
The cave has gone through a lot during its long history. In some areas, the original stalactite decoration was removed on the orders of the Lichtenstein family to decorate the interior of their artificial caves located on the grounds of Chateau Lednice. In the 1960s, an underground shelter and a secret command post were created at the entrance to the cave. As a layman, the structure of the shelter reminded me of Bunker 10-Z. The accumulation of animal bones and bat guano turned the cave clay into high-quality phosphate fertilizer. Thus, in the 20th century, phosphate clay mining began. A narrow-gauge railway was built in the cave and a clay processing plant was located in front of the entrance.
In addition, the cave was also used as a military warehouse and a German weapons factory. This meant that the walls and ceiling projections were blown up, and an artificial entrance was created, which could be driven in by a truck. Several side corridors were walled up, and the floor was covered with a layer of concrete. The local Czech residents were forced to work here. Unfortunately, the underground factory destroyed a lot of natural values, and traces of the fire that started in April 1945 can still be seen on the cave walls today. As a result, the growing stalactites created various patterns, such as the “jaguar skin” pattern. Fortunately, despite this, some parts of the cave have been preserved in their natural state. Thus, in some areas, which are of course not visible to the public, there is still a rich and beautiful stalactite decoration.
Paleontological findings of the area
The cave is also a significant paleontological site, where complete skeletons of early Pleistocene fauna: cave bears (Ursus spelaeus), cave lions (Panthera spelaea), rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros tichorhinus), cave hyenas (Crocuta spelaea), wildcats (Felis silvestris) can be found. Several skeletons are exhibited in the Anthropos museum. Organic marine sediments from the Late Devonian period, 360-370 million years old, can be observed on the walls of the cave. Fossils of ammonites, belemnites and other marine animals can also be found. Traces of ancient activity of underground streams are also visible, as shown by the gravel places in the floor. The cave system was formed in several development phases and has two levels. The upper level has more extensive domes, while the lower level lies 40 meters (~44 yd) deeper. Here the Křtinský stream flows to the Otevřená Skala Dolina Valley.
The Výpustek Cave also serves as a resting place for several species of bats. One of the large domes of the cave is now used for concerts. During the tour, I sang a song here to try it out, and indeed, the hall has wonderful acoustics! Of course, this is only a fraction of what we can learn and see during the tour. The tour guide was professional, the lady guide spoke English, which I really appreciated. So we were able to talk about the discovery and history of the cave, the formation of stalactites and stalagmites, paleontological finds, speleology and the geographical features of the area. I liked that the lady really loves and is interested in what she does. It was a pleasant time, I felt very good. It is definitely worth a visit.
“Life is about growth and exploration, not achieving a fixed state of balance. You have a very limited time on earth to experience all that you can. Figuring out how to squeeze the most out of your family, work, and spirituality is your life’s purpose. Go do it.”
– Mel Robbins