Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Canada
the United States
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Cave · Štramberk, Moravian-Silesian
Šipka Cave (Jeskyně Šipka)
Karst cave on the Kotouč hill, where in 1880 the archaeologist Karel Jaroslav Maška found a fragment of the jawbone of a Neanderthal child. It is a national natural monument and is located in the Národní sad, a park with busts and memorials.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Šipka Cave (Jeskyně Šipka)
The Šipka cave is on the northern slope of the Kotouč hill, at about 440 meters altitude, a few minutes from Štramberk square. Formed by water in a very ancient period, it served as shelter for human groups over tens of thousands of years.
Between 1879 and 1887, Professor Karel Jaroslav Maška, from Nový Jičín, excavated the cave. In 1880 he found, beside an ancient hearth, a fragment of the jawbone of a Neanderthal child, which became known as the Šipka jawbone. The original was lost in a fire in 1945; a plaque from 1922 on the cave wall honors Maška.
The path to the cave crosses the Národní sad, a park opened in 1922 on the hill, with busts and memorials to Czech personalities. Part of Kotouč was cut by a limestone quarry, visible from several points in town.
The cave has been a national natural monument since 1960 and can be visited freely. On Záuličí street, the Muzeum Šipka, linked to the regional museum, shows a replica of the cave and the jawbone.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 hour, including the walk through the Národní sad.
Best time
In daytime, with dry weather: the trail has stone sections that become slippery when it rains.
How to get there
On foot from Štramberk square, via the Národní sad trail, in about 15 minutes.
Tip
Visit the Muzeum Šipka on Záuličí street before you go up: the replica helps to understand what was found in the cave.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Šipka Cave (Jeskyně Šipka)
What was found in the Šipka Cave?
In 1880 a fragment of a Neanderthal child’s jaw, discovered by archaeologist Karel Jaroslav Maška.
Is the Šipka Cave open to the public?
Yes—it can be visited freely via the Národní sad trail.
Where is the Šipka Cave?
On the northern slope of Kotouč hill, a few minutes’ walk from Štramberk’s square.