Discover Rudice: Cave System, Windmill and Kaolin Quarry

In Rudice, nature and geology meet architecture and local history. Rudické propadání is designated a national natural monument. The Dutch-type windmill and the Chapel of St. Barbara add specific buildings to the townscape. When planning your trip, it is worth noting the different visitor access conditions: the underground spaces are not open to the public, and the exhibits in the windmill museum can only be viewed on a guided tour.

The cave system and access conditions

The Rudické propadání–Býčí skála cave system has around 13 kilometres of passages and is the second-longest cave system in the Czech Republic. The underground spaces of Rudické propadání are not open to the public. Access is possible only as part of speleology courses and accompanied by experienced instructors. The official access rules may change, so check the conditions before making specific plans. This helps distinguish the geological significance of the cave system from the possibility of actually exploring it.

Windmill, museum and geopark

The Rudice windmill is of the Dutch type and was built in 1865 by Matěj and Františka Ševčík. At the windmill museum, admission and viewing the exhibits are possible only when accompanied by a guide. So plan to take a guided tour of the exhibition. A small geopark next to the windmill features rock samples from the Moravian Karst and the Drahanská vrchovina.

The windmill brings together two distinct themes: the architectural history of a specific building and rock samples from two named regions. The date of construction and the builders’ names give the mill a historical context; the geopark draws attention to the geological diversity of the samples on display. If you are especially interested in one of these themes, you can make it the focus of your visits.

Seč kaolin quarry and circular trail

The excursion route “Do Rudice k větrnému mlýnu a ke kaolínovému lomu Seč” is a 6.5-kilometre circular trail. Its name identifies the windmill and the Seč kaolin quarry as destinations. Its stated length and circular route format provide practical guidance when planning this outing.

The walls of the kaolin quarry display shades of white, yellow, orange and red. These colours are caused by the kaolin deposits found there. Together with the rock samples in the geopark, this offers two different ways to experience geology: through the colours of the quarry walls and through a collection of rocks from the Moravian Karst and the Drahanská vrchovina. Each offers a distinct point of reference, and the deposits should not be equated with the samples on display.

The Chapel of St. Barbara

The Chapel of St. Barbara stands at the intersection of two avenues. Its construction is characterised by cavity-wall construction: the outer layer of the wall is stone, while the inner layer is brick. These details illustrate the construction without conflating the two layers. While the Dutch type and building history are central to the windmill, the wall construction is the chapel’s distinctive architectural detail. The two buildings therefore offer different points of interest for anyone wishing to explore Rudice from a cultural and historical perspective as well.

These attractions offer several distinct interests to consider when planning your trip: the designated natural monument and extensive cave system, the windmill with its guided exhibition, geology at the kaolin quarry and in the small geopark, and the chapel’s construction. Access conditions are part of the decision: the cave spaces are subject to special restrictions, while a guided tour is required to visit the windmill museum exhibition. At 6.5 kilometres, the circular trail is another clearly defined excursion option.

Discover more destinations: Deštná, Újezd U Boskovic, Svinošice, Kulirov, Žernovník, Vanovice, Svitávka, Ludíkov.

For the broader travel overview: Blansko District.