Zbrašov Aragonite Caves (Zbrašovské aragonitové jeskyně), Czechia (Czech Republic)
Zbrašov aragonite caves are located in the town of Teplice nad Bečvou, in a picturesque valley of the river Bečva. The caves were created by the simultaneous action of rain and mineral water flowing through the limestone blocks. The biggest attractions of the caves are the geyser stalagmites and numerous formations of aragonite surfaces in different colors. The lowest level of the caves is permanently filled with carbon dioxide and therefore very dangerous. The caves were discovered by two brothers - Joseph and Čenk Chromy in 1912, and opened to tourists in 1926. These are the warmest caves in the Czech Republic - the average annual temperature here is 14°C.
Parking in Zbrašov
The D1 motorway goes throught this area. We use the exit 308, then we go the road 440 towards the towns of Hranice and Teplice nad Bečvou. We leave the car on the parking lot at the Tř. generála Svobody street (P; GPS: 49.5359739, 17.7413697). We walk about 400 meters along the street towards the south, and then enter a side road and walk the path slightly uphill to the cave entrance (A; GPS: 49.5316497, 17.7457361), where we also find a ticket office.
The caves
In fact, the caves are fully open in the season between April and October so you may visit them in this time. Ticket price (as for 2016) is 100 CZK for adults, 80 CZK for seniors 65+. Children aged from 6 to 15 years old, schoolchildren and students aged up to 26 years pay 50 CZK, while children under 6 are admitted free. If you want to make a video or some photographs, you have to pay extra 40 CZK.
After entering the cave we first descend few dozens steps to the place where the right route starts. It has a length of about 370 meters. At the beginning of the twenty-first century there was a major renovation of the route. It is also computer-controlled by carbon dioxide sensors. The tour is quite interesting, although we do not see large stalagmites and stalactites known from other caves. This results directly from the way of the formation of geyser stalagmites that have a different structure. At some point the guide presents how such geyser stalagmite "works", making it a small fountain of water. On the walls of the cave we can also see pure aragonite in the form of white balls. Exit from the cave is located just nearby the Bečva river (B; GPS: 49.5317786, 17.7462725).
See also: