Moravian Karst in Autumn: Colourful Gorges, Fish Harvests and Caves Without the Queues

Autumn is the Karst’s quiet alternative to spring. The queues thin out straight after the first week of September, the caves are still running a full programme in September, and the leaves in the gorges are turning. In October, though, Kateřinská Cave (Catherine’s Cave) is closed on Mondays and the Podvrší lookout tower closes for the season. In early November the Olšovec pond in Jedovnice is harvested, this year on 7 and 8 November. The Křtiny Arboretum is open at weekends until 1 November.

QUICK LINKS 🍁 Why go in autumn · 🕳️ Caves · 🐟 Fish harvests · 🌳 Where to go · ❓ FAQ

In September the Karst empties out. The children are back at school, the summer crowds have gone home, and by October the countryside is arguably at its loveliest of the whole year.

Why go in autumn

• Fewer people. The queues thin out noticeably straight after the first week of September.
• Colour. The gorges and valleys are full of deciduous woodland, beech and oak, which turn yellow and russet in autumn. The best displays are in Pustý žleb and the Křtiny Valley.
• Steppe slopes in the south of the Karst are still in flower in August and September. European Michaelmas-daisy and goldilocks aster are among the last blooms of the year. Along the field margins, rosehips, blackthorn berries and dogwood fruits are ripening.

Caves in autumn

• September: Kateřinská Cave runs a tour every hour from 9 am to 4 pm, and the other caves are still operating fully or almost fully.
• October: Kateřinská Cave is closed on Mondays; Tuesday to Friday entry from 9 to 14, at weekends from 9 to 16.
• November: the caves move to a winter timetable with fewer tours. Kateřinská Cave has just 3 tours a day, Tuesday to Sunday, and closes completely in December.
• Sloupsko-šošůvské Caves (Sloup–Šošůvka Caves) occasionally hold lantern-lit tours in November and December. Dates are announced as they are confirmed; see Concerts in the Caves.
• The cable car to the Macocha Abyss has a limited service from October and in winter, so check the current schedule with the Cave Administration.

For exact opening hours and prices, see the cave price list.

Fish pond harvests

Autumn is harvest time for the ponds. The biggest one near the Karst is the harvest of Olšovec in Jedovnice, held in 2026 on Saturday and Sunday, 7 and 8 November. On sale are Jedovnice carp bearing the Moravian Karst Regional Product label, live fish straight from the dam, and fish specialities. Everything you need to know about the harvests is in the article Pond Harvests near the Moravian Karst 2026.

Where to go

• Křtiny Arboretum, the tree collection of Mendel University. In 2026 it is open at weekends until 1 November, 10:00–17:30, with an open day on 17 October. In autumn you can admire the colourful foliage of trees from every corner of the world.
• Podvrší lookout tower is open on Friday afternoons and at weekends in September and October, then closed until May. See Podvrší Lookout Tower.
• Čertův hrádek (the Devil’s Castle) and the woodland springs on the Olomučany nature trail; see Devils in the Moravian Karst.
• The Křtiny Valley and the Old Ironworks (Stará huť) near Adamov. In October the ironworks is open at weekends only; see The Iron Karst.

To prepare for winter, read Moravian Karst in Winter.

FAQ

Is Kateřinská Cave open in autumn? In September, every day; in October, except Mondays; in November, Tuesday to Sunday with just 3 tours a day. In December it is closed.

When is the Olšovec harvest? In 2026, on Saturday and Sunday, 7 and 8 November.

Are there fewer people in the Karst in autumn? Yes, the queues thin out noticeably straight after the start of September.

When do the leaves colour most in the Moravian Karst? Usually in October, depending on the weather. The deciduous woods of the gorges and valleys give the richest colours.

Information verified as of 10. 10. 2026. Sources: Caves Administration of the Czech Republic, Kateřinská Cave: opening hours; Křtiny Arboretum; Technical Museum in Brno: Old Ironworks near Adamov; Olšovec: Pond Harvest; our articles on the flora, the Podvrší lookout tower and Skalní Mlýn, which list further sources.

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