Vilémovice: the village whose parish holds the Macocha Abyss

Vilémovice is a small village (343 inhabitants) whose parish contains the biggest draw of the entire Moravian Karst — the Macocha Abyss. Water is so scarce here that it disappears right in the middle of the village, at the Vilémovice Sink. From here, the shortest route leads up to the Upper Bridge of the abyss.

QUICK LINKS 🕳️ Why visit · 🚗 How to get there · ❓ FAQ

Why visit

Vilémovice is the gateway village to the Macocha Abyss — the most photographed spot in the whole region. The abyss plunges 138.5 metres deep, making it the largest of its kind in the Czech Republic and Central Europe, and it lies right within the village’s parish. Two viewing platforms perch on the rim of the abyss, both free of charge and open all year round, no booking required.

Besides Macocha, the area around Vilémovice has plenty of other karst features to offer — in the village itself, water vanishes into the Vilémovice Sink right in the heart of the settlement, and the surrounding countryside holds several more caves, sinkholes and limestone pavements. If you want to see how quietly the landscape can “swallow” an entire stream, here’s a textbook example right on the village green.

A green-marked hiking trail from Vilémovice runs through the Suchý žleb valley all the way to Skalní Mlýn and the Moravian Karst Nature House — a walking route that doesn’t require a car.

How to get there

Vilémovice lies just a few kilometres from Blansko. Near the Upper Bridge of the abyss you’ll find an information centre, where you can learn more about the abyss and its surroundings, plus a paid car park. For full details on getting to the karst (train, bus 232, car), see our article on transport to the Karst.

Vilémovice is home to seven memorial large-leaved lime trees, the Vilémovice Limes — see Memorial Trees of the Moravian Karst.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a car to reach Vilémovice, or can I walk there? Both work — driving is the fastest option, but the green trail through the Suchý žleb valley offers a walking route straight from Skalní Mlýn.

Can you see the Macocha Abyss directly from the village? No, you need to follow the marked trail to reach the viewing platforms, but it’s not far.

What else is there to see in Vilémovice? The Vilémovice Sink in the middle of the village — a striking example of how water disappears beneath the karst surface — along with several smaller caves and sinkholes nearby.

Part of the series A Week in the Moravian Karst: a complete 7-day itinerary. For full details on the abyss, see our dedicated article: The Macocha Abyss. Sources: brochure by the Association for Rural Development of the Moravian Karst (published with support from the Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic), Czech Caves Administration. Village data may change over time — for the latest information, visit the village website vilemovice.cz.