Where to Photograph the Moravian Karst: Viewpoints, Caves and the Rules for Cameras and Drones

The most striking shot in the karst is the Macocha Abyss from the Upper and Lower Bridges, both free of charge. For a wide panorama, head to the Podvrší lookout tower; for colour, to the Seč quarry near Rudice; for rock faces, to Pustý žleb (the “Desolate Gorge”); and for romance, to the ruins of Holštejn Castle. Photography is allowed in the caves run by the Czech Caves Administration, but without flash, tripods or selfie sticks. Photographers must not hold up the group, and photography is banned altogether on the boat trip in the Punkva Caves. You may not use cave photographs commercially without permission. Drones in the protected landscape area are allowed only with a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority, on which the nature protection authority gives its opinion. Photograph the flowers, but don’t pick them, and don’t step off the paths.

QUICK LINKS 🕳️ Macocha · 🔭 Views from above · 🪨 Gorges and rocks · 🎨 Seč quarry · 📷 Photography in the caves · 🚁 Drones · 🌸 Nature and rules · ❓ FAQ

The Moravian Karst is a tricky place to photograph. The most interesting sights are underground, where tripods and flash are off limits, or in deep gorges where the sun shines for only a few hours a day. Here’s a rundown of the places that are worth your while with a camera, and of the rules it’s best to know before a guide points them out to you.

The Macocha Abyss

The Macocha Abyss is the most photographed spot in the entire karst, and the best part is that both viewing bridges are free.

• The Upper Bridge, built in 1882, is about 200 m from the car park, within a 5-minute walk. It is the highest vantage point, and from it you can see the whole abyss.
• The Lower Bridge, built in 1899, sits about 90 metres above the bottom. You reach it along a path with steps; the Cave Administration gives no time. It offers the best view straight down to the floor of the abyss and the little pools.
• From the bottom, you’ll see the abyss during the tour of the Punkva Caves (Punkevní jeskyně). Looking up towards the light is one of the most powerful shots in the karst.

There’s more in the article The Macocha Abyss.

Views from above

• The Podvrší lookout tower near Veselice: a covered platform at 32 metres, with views across the whole karst and the Drahany Highlands.
• Alexander’s Lookout Tower above Adamov: views south over the Svitava valley and Brno, free all year round.
• The U Lidušky lookout tower above Bílovice: a metal tower with 131 steps, free of charge.
• Burian’s Lookout Tower near Rudka: in good visibility, you can see as far as the Jeseníky mountains and Pálava.

All the lookout towers are compared in the article Lookout Towers of the Moravian Karst.

Gorges, rocks and castles

• Pustý žleb: a canyon with a tarmac road closed to cars, the Hřebenáč rock and the entrance portal of the Kůlna Cave near Sloup. There is plenty of shade in the gorge during the day, so expect a contrast between the shadowy floor and the sunlit edges of the rocks.
• The ruins of Holštejn Castle above the Holštejn valley, see Holštejn.
• The portal of the Býčí skála (Bull Rock) Cave in the Josefovské údolí valley, see Josefovské údolí and Býčí skála.
• The Pekárna Cave in the Říčka valley, with an imposing entrance portal and open access. See The Říčka Valley and the Pekárna Cave.
• The Rudice Sink: a stream that vanishes into a rock face, and the Kolíbky rock amphitheatre.
• The pilgrimage church in Křtiny by Santini, see Křtiny.

Seč quarry: colour

The former sand quarry near Rudice has walls in shades of white, yellow, ochre, orange and red, thanks to kaolin and iron compounds. It is a natural monument. Photograph only from the marked path; you must not approach the walls, either from below or along the upper edge. There’s more in the article The Seč Quarry near Rudice.

Photography in the caves

Under the visitor rules of the Czech Caves Administration, the following applies in its caves:

• You may photograph and film, but only without a tripod, selfie stick or flash.
• The photographer must not hold up the tour, wander away from the group or hinder other visitors.
• Photography is prohibited on the boat trip in the Punkva Caves.
• You may not use photographs or videos commercially without the consent of the Czech Caves Administration.
• Bulky luggage and tripods may not be taken into the caves.

In the Cave of the Blaník Knights (Jeskyně blanických rytířů) in Rudka, which is not run by the Caves Administration, there is a 25 Kč (approx. €1) surcharge for taking photographs — an indicative conversion; the exchange rate varies — and in winter you may photograph only without flash, so as not to disturb hibernating bats. See Stanislav Rolínek and the Cave of the Blaník Knights.

In practice: the caves are dark and the group keeps moving. A fast lens or your phone’s night mode will help, as will bracing yourself against the railing instead of using a tripod. The spacious Main Dome is found in Kateřinská Cave (Kateřinská jeskyně). The most stalactite and stalagmite decoration in a small space is in Balcarka Cave (Balcarka).

Drones

The whole of the Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area is one of the zones where flying drones is restricted. According to the Protected Landscape Area Administration, flights are authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority on the basis of an application, and the opinion of the nature protection authority is required for the permit. So don’t fly a drone here without permission. Drones disturb birds, especially the birds of prey nesting on the rocks, and the peregrine falcon returned to the karst only in 2016.

Nature and rules

• Photograph the flowers, don’t pick them. Pasque flowers, especially on the Hádecká planinka plateau, bloom in spring and are protected. See The Flora of the Moravian Karst.
• Don’t step off the paths for the sake of a shot. In national nature reserves it is forbidden, and trampled tracks damage the environment.
• Don’t disturb the wildlife, even when taking close-ups during the nesting season.
• Hibernating bats must not be disturbed by anyone. If you spot one in a cave, don’t shine a light on it.

There’s more in the article Rules of the Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area.

FAQ

Can I take photographs in the Punkva Caves? Yes, but without flash, tripod or selfie stick. Photography is prohibited on the boat trip.

Where is the best view of the Macocha Abyss? From the Upper Bridge you see the whole abyss; from the Lower Bridge you get the best view down to the bottom. Both are free.

Can I fly a drone in the Moravian Karst? Only with a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority, on which the nature protection authority gives its opinion. The protected landscape area is a restricted zone.

May I use my cave photos on a website or sell them? For commercial purposes, only with the consent of the Czech Caves Administration.

Information verified as of 16. 10. 2026. Sources: Czech Caves Administration: Visitor Rules (Punkva Caves); Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, Moravian Karst PLA: Flying Drones; Cave of the Blaník Knights: price list; facts about the places are based on the articles on this website cited above.

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