Holštejn (population around 150) is one of the smallest villages in the Moravian Karst. It sits in the valley of the Bílá voda stream, hemmed in by the rocks of a nature reserve. High above the village, on a limestone crag, are the remains of Holštejn Castle, dating from the 13th century. The ruins are freely accessible, and beneath them lies the Hladomorna cave (the “Starvation Cave”), also known as Lidomorna. A short way from the village, the Bílá voda disappears underground at the sinkholes of Stará and Nová Rasovna. Above the valley is the Velká dohoda outdoor activity area, with via ferratas and a cable car. We couldn’t find any verified accommodation in Holštejn itself; the nearest options are in Šošůvka and Sloup.
QUICK LINKS 🏰 Castle · 💧 Bílá voda · 🧗 Velká dohoda · 🛏️ Where to stay · ❓ FAQ
The Holštejn valley is the quietest of the three big valleys in the northern part of the karst. When cars are queuing in a long line in Pustý žleb (the “Desolate Gorge”) in summer, it’s still peaceful here. Yet within a few hundred metres you’ll find a castle, a cave and a set of sinkholes.
Holštejn Castle
The castle was founded in the 13th century by Hartman of Ceblovice. He is first named “of Holštejn” in 1268, in a charter by which he gave Bukovinka to the Zábrdovice monastery. The castle’s name comes from German: hohl means hollow and Stein means stone. It was named after the cave in the rock beneath the castle.
The lords of Holštejn were among the most powerful in Moravia. Vok IV of Holštejn fell in 1420 at the Battle of Vyšehrad, where he fought on the side of King Sigismund against the Hussites. Under his sons the family’s glory began to fade. By 1531 the castle was recorded as deserted, and the little town beneath it stood abandoned until 1550. The castle was not destroyed in war. It was dismantled, its stone used to build a manor farm completed in 1717. All that remains of the original settlement below the castle is Zukal’s Mill (Zukalův mlýn).
The ruins stand on a crag measuring roughly 85 × 52 metres and are freely accessible. From the castle rock you can see the whole village.
Hladomorna
The cave beneath the castle served as a prison. In its ceiling, some 8 metres up, is an opening through which prisoners were dropped down from the castle above. That this is more than just a legend is confirmed by finds of human bones and fragments of medieval clothing. Entry is not permitted, as the cave is a winter roost for bats, but you can peer in from the entrance.
The Bílá voda and the Rasovna sinkholes
The Bílá voda stream flows through the village and gives its name to the surrounding nature reserve. Just below Holštejn the stream vanishes underground at the Stará and Nová Rasovna sinkholes. Beneath the surface it joins the Sloup stream (Sloupský potok) to form the Punkva, which only re-emerges near the Macocha Abyss. You’ll find an explanation of how this works in our article Karst phenomena of the Moravian Karst.
By Nová Rasovna a new bridge carries the road from Holštejn to Ostrov u Macochy, so the sinkhole is easy to reach on foot. The rocks in the valley are popular with climbers. Climbing is permitted only on approved walls; the list is in our article Climbing in the Moravian Karst.
Velká dohoda outdoor activity area
Above the valley, within the boundaries of neighbouring Lipovec, lies the former limestone quarry of Velká dohoda. It now houses an activity area with more than 1,100 metres of via ferrata, a rope park, a climbing wall and a zip wire 402 metres long, which starts almost 30 metres above the quarry floor. At the bottom of the quarry you can take a guided walk through the Horizont cave, with helmet and head torch provided (50 Kč, approx. €2 — a rough conversion only, as exchange rates fluctuate). The shaft lime kiln from 1928 is freely accessible.
In September and October the area is open at weekends and on public holidays, 10am to 6pm. On weekdays, arrange a visit by phone (604 182 710, 739 751 003). The site has no street address; you park above the quarry and walk about 80 metres down on foot. There’s more on the Horizont cave in the article Caves without a guide.
Day trips
- By bike through Suchý and Pustý žleb. Holštejn lies on the loop from Skalní Mlýn; see By bike through Suchý and Pustý žleb. Be prepared for a steep climb from Holštejn to Šošůvka.
- To Šošůvka and Sloup, follow the red-marked trail past the Na Troubkách spring; see Šošůvka and Sloup–Šošůvka Caves.
- To Lipovec it’s a short walk via Velká dohoda; see Lipovec.
Where to stay
We weren’t able to track down any accommodation in Holštejn itself with a verified operating status. The nearest options are:
- Šošůvka, the municipal tourist hostel; see Šošůvka.
- Sloup, with hotels, a guesthouse and a campsite; see Sloup.
Not far from the village green is the Hostinec pod hradem (“Inn below the Castle”), with a decor themed around the village’s history. Do check that it’s open before you set off.
FAQ
Is Holštejn Castle ruin freely accessible? Yes, at any time and free of charge.
Can you go into the Hladomorna cave? No, it’s a winter roost for bats. You can only look in from the entrance.
Where does the name Holštejn come from? From German: hohl means hollow and Stein means stone. The castle took its name from the cave in the rock beneath it.
Where does the Bílá voda sink underground? At the Stará and Nová Rasovna sinkholes, just below the village. Underground it joins the Sloup stream to form the Punkva.
Information verified as of 11. 10. 2026. Sources: brochure by the Moravian Karst Rural Development Association (Spolek pro rozvoj venkova Moravský kras), Holštejn village profile; Holštejn municipality: History of Holštejn Castle and its lords; Holštejn (Wikipedia); Velká dohoda outdoor activity area.
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