The Moravian Karst is a karst area, a geomorphological subdivision of the Drahanská vrchovina between Brno and Sloup. It is a north-south elongated area 25 km long and about 3.5-6 km wide in the shape of an inverted L, formed by Devonian limestones of the Macos Formation, about 380 million years old. However, the karst landscape itself, developed on these limestones, is much younger. The conspicuous karst phenomena preserved today are mostly about 200,000 years old or younger, with some occurring in the present day. For two centuries, the area we now call the Moravian Karst was known as Moravian Switzerland. Since the end of the last marine flood in the Younger Tertiary, the present-day karst landscape has already developed, but only tiny remnants of the oldest karst phenomena remain today. The main cave systems as we know them today were formed during the last two ice ages in the Quaternary. The Moravian Karst has always attracted people's attention. Its first human inhabitants - the Neanderthals - used the caves for shelter. This was the case in the Kůlna cave. The reindeer and horse hunters from the very end of the Ice Ages, the so-called Magdalenians, also took advantage of the hospitality of the large caves to live and to butcher their prey and other activities. The most typical such site is the Bakery Cave near Ochozi. With the advent of the modern age, the Renaissance and the Baroque, diggers came to the underground to collect the bones of giants, dragons and unicorns, not only as medicine or talismans, but also as souvenirs for visitors. The first more comprehensive description of the caves of the local region was given in 1663 by Martin A. Vigsius, in a book with the baroque title Vallis baptismi alias Kyriteinensis, Czech for Valley of Baptism or Křtinské. Gradually, from the second half of the 18th century onwards, local diggers, rock climbers and explorers became involved, describing and crawling through many smaller caves and rocks. Following in their footsteps or accompanying them were the noblemen who had the time, motivation and resources at the time, in particular the Salm and Lichtenstein. After 1850, the curious doctor of the Salm smelters, Henry Wankel, arrived. He explores the Punkva springs, descends into the Rudice sinkhole, collects the bones of bears, lions and hyenas in the Sloupské Caves, remains and tools of prehistoric people. It is the personality of Henry Wankel that will long overshadow all others, it is he who will establish the numerous branches of karst research. At least a few artefacts related to his life and work also remain of Henry Wankel. Although most of his finds and collections are now unavailable for long-term display, the remaining objects form an interesting insight into Wankel's life and world. You can get a glimpse of him in the exposition Pictures from Moravian Switzerland.. Obsah Front page Images from Moravian Switzerland Museum of Blansko Region Moravian Karst Cave divers Henry Wankel Czechoslovak Lion History of the chateau Hugo Franz Old Count Salm Olomučany pottery Archeology Treasure of silver coins The Mystery of "Býčí Skálal" Cave Princess of "Býčí Skála" Cave Funeral carriage Blansko artistic cast iron Karl Ludwig von Reichenbach Moravian Karst