Němčice (around 470 inhabitants) lies in the forests of the Drahanská vrchovina highlands, north-east of Sloup, at an altitude of over 600 metres. Its landmark is the Church of St Nicholas, which is owned by the village itself, a rarity in Moravia. On a hill south of the village stands a stone windmill dating from 1840. Beneath the village lies the Němčice Cave, where iron ore was once mined. Today it serves as a source of drinking water and is closed to visitors. A yellow-marked trail leads through the forest to Sloup and the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves (Sloupsko-šošůvské jeskyně). You can stay overnight in a chalet in the village or in Sloup.
QUICK LINKS 👀 What to see · 🥾 Walks and rides · 🛏️ Where to stay · ❓ FAQ
According to an old legend, a large town once stood on the site of Němčice, home mainly to miners. There was no town, but there was ore: iron really was mined in the Němčice Cave.
What to see
Church of St Nicholas
Němčice is first mentioned in 1358, and even then it had a parish house and probably a church. The original building was more of a Gothic chapel, and it was rebuilt into its present form around 1844. It is one of the few churches in Moravia owned by the village rather than the Church.
The windmill
This stone windmill of the Dutch type was built in 1840 on a rise south of the village. It was still grinding grain during the First Republic (the interwar Czechoslovak state). After that, nobody looked after it, and wind and rain destroyed the sails and robbed the mill of its original appearance. Today it is a private home, so you can only admire it from the outside. There is a lovely view of the village from the mill.
The Němčice Cave
Cavers have explored chambers here where iron ore was mined in the past. Today it is a source of drinking water, which is why it is closed to the public. I write about iron mining in the region in my article The Iron Karst.
Walks and rides
- On foot to Sloup. From the signpost in the village, a yellow-marked trail leads through the forest to Sloup and the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves. From there you can continue along the red-marked trail through Pustý žleb (the “Desolate Gorge”) as far as the Macocha Abyss; see Pustý žleb.
- By bike. The surrounding forests are criss-crossed with forest tracks, ideal for a ride.
Where to stay
- Němčice has a chalet to rent on the booking portals (Chalet Němčice). We could not find a website of its own, so please check the terms before booking.
- Hotels, a guesthouse and a campsite can be found in Sloup; see Sloup.
FAQ
Can you visit the Němčice Cave? No. It serves as a source of drinking water and is not open to the public.
Can you go inside the windmill in Němčice? Only the outside can be viewed. Inside, it is a private home.
How do you get from Němčice to the Moravian Karst? On foot, along the yellow-marked trail through the forest to Sloup and the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves.
Information verified as of 12 October 2026. Sources: brochure of the Moravian Karst Rural Development Association (Spolek pro rozvoj venkova Moravský kras), profile of the village of Němčice; Němčice (Wikipedia).
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