Cycling through Křtiny, Rudice and Jedovnice
The Moravian Karst is not just about Macocha and the Punkevní Caves. If you’d like to discover some lesser-known but still very interesting places, set off on a circular cycle route from Křtiny via Habrůvka, Rudice and Jedovnice. You’ll come across a Baroque pilgrimage site, forest sections, karst sinkholes, a windmill and a spot by the water.
The route starts in Křtiny, which you can easily reach by car from OREA Resort Panorama. You can park in the car park by the castle in Křtiny. Another parking option is the Arboretum Křtiny car park, where you can also join this route.
The trip is suitable for leisure cyclists who don’t mind varied terrain and climbs.
Before you set off on your bike, don’t forget to pack a snack at breakfast. At OREA, you can put together your own snack to suit your taste and pack it into the bags provided.
Route details
Length: 19 .4 km
Bike type: trekking bike, mountain bike or e-bike
Difficulty: moderate
Elevation gain: 323 m
Surface: tarmac roads, forest tracks, with some natural or rough surfaces in places
In the Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area, cyclists may only ride on roads, local tracks and routes designated by the area’s management. Before setting off, check the current route and any road closures.
Where does the route go?
Křtiny is one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in Moravia, and the local Church of the Name of the Virgin Mary is associated with the name of Jan Blažej Santini. This monumental Baroque complex is one of the most striking landmarks in this part of the Moravian Karst.
From Křtiny, the route heads towards Habrůvka. The first part of the route passes through undulating countryside and woodland sections, so do not expect a flat cycle path here.
The highlight of the trip is Rudice. Its most distinctive landmark is the Rudice windmill, which houses a museum dedicated to, amongst other things, mineralogy, speleology, mining and metallurgy. There is also a geopark with rock displays in the vicinity of the windmill.
From Rudice, you can head to the Rudice Sinkhole. It is here that the Jedovnický stream disappears underground and continues through an extensive cave system.
The route continues towards Jedovnice to Olšovec Pond. In summer, there are leisure facilities, a campsite, refreshments and spots where you can spend a while by the water before setting off or after returning from your trip. If you’d like to extend your trip, you can add a short cycle ride around the network of local ponds in Jedovnice.
From Jedovnice, the route returns to Křtiny via the Křtiny Arboretum.
Hotels nearby
In Křtiny stands the pilgrimage church of the Name of the Virgin Mary, a Baroque complex designed by Jan Blažej Santini. Right next to it stands Křtiny Castle, a former provost’s residence, which is now used by Mendel University.
In Rudice, there is a windmill housing an exhibition dedicated to mineralogy, speleology, mining and metallurgy. Right next to it is a geopark featuring rock samples from the Moravian Karst and the Drahany Uplands.
The Jedovnický Stream disappears underground here, forming the extensive cave system known as the Rudické propadání and Býčí skála. The water from the stream plunges down a series of waterfalls to a depth of 86 metres, with the highest of the waterfalls measuring 35 metres.
Olšovec is the largest pond in Jedovnice and is used for recreational purposes. In the summer, there are leisure facilities, a campsite and refreshments available here.
The Křtiny Arboretum states that it is the largest university arboretum in the Czech Republic, covering 23 hectares, and that its collection of trees was established between 1928 and 1929. Bicycles are not permitted on the premises; they can be left at the entrance.
