Jeskyně Na Špičáku

This cave is located in Northern Moravia near the spa town of Jesenik and 2km from Supikovice. It was named after the nearby Spricak Hill. The entrance is in an abandoned marble quarry. The cave was first described in 1430 by Antonius Walle of Cracow in his instructions for gold miners. This is claimed to be the oldest cave reference in Europe.

On the walls are numerous inscriptions in Czech, German and French from the years 1564 to 1613. On the ceiling in the Main Gallery is an interesting painting showing the Calvary. It is assumed that the cave was used as a refuge and for religious rites.

In 1884 the caves were opened to the public by the Sudenten Mountain Club (Sudenten Gebirgs Verein). A cave survey was drawn by J Ripper. Later the cave fell into disrepair, but in 1949 it was taken over by the Jesenik town council. A new entrance tunnel was made and electric lights installed. It was reopened again in 1955. It is the only cave in Bohemia with access for the disabled as the tourist route is on one level.

The cave consists of a maze of passages with a heart-like cross section, 2m high and 2-3m wide. There are plenty of speleothems.

Text by Tony Oldham (2002). With kind permission.