EVC Švýcárna

 

Location


EVC Švýcárna (Ekologické Volnočasové Centrum) is an ecological leisure time center located in the lower part of the Křtinský valley (Křtinské údolí), called Josefov valley (Josefovské údolí), approximately 20 km from the city of Brno and 4 km from the village of Adamov in Northeast direction. In the heart of the Býčí skála national natural reserve, the valley is part of the protected area called Moravian Karst Landscape Protected Area, the largest and most remarkable karst area in the Czech Republic (with over 1000 caves discovered up to now). The center is also situated next to the remains of a former iron smelting plant, called Stará huť, the oldest surviving ironworks in Central Europe.

EVC Švýcárna

Josefov 459, 679 04 Adamov (Czech Republic)

Phone: +420 511 141 297, +420 776 259 594

Email: evc.svycarna@centrum.cz

GPS coordinates: 49°18'22,49" N; 16°40'47,97" E

Because of its cultural and natural heritage, the Moravian Karst is a an attractive area for tourism. Nature and outdoor sport lovers can enjoy the natural assets while doing some of their favorite activities (cycling, hiking, climbing, caving or swimming). There are many cultural sights as well, including archaeological and paleontological remains, and historical monuments.

Contact

History


The center was built in the mid-19th century by the Liechtenstein family, inspired by the style of houses in Swiss Alps. The Švýcárna complex originally served as a slag bath, where a treatment of crushed slag, modified from the neighbor ironworks, was used. The operation of the spa, from the economic point of view, was not entirely successful for its owners, so it was further used as a coaching inn.

During the 20th century, Švýcárna often alternated owners and uses; it became an inn, a guesthouse, a leisure time-training centre, a corporate lodge, a youth hostel and it was also used as a private residence. In 1989 the Socialist Youth Union took over it and therefore, after this year the property was included in the Fund for Children and Youth. After that, during the 90’s the complex was rent to several tenants who used it as a guesthouse and restaurant, and also for special events such as weddings and corporate meetings.

Already in last decade, in 2000, the Fund for Children and Youth announced a tender in order to get back some benefits generated by the property and to deliver the use rights to non-profit organizations. So, after long procedure, in 2006 the buildings became a property of Hnutí Brontosaurus Modrý kámen (HB MK), with an agreement of using the complex primarily for activities with children and young people, and occasionally for business. Since 2008, HB MK has been investing a great amount of money in reconstruction with the purpose of creating EVC Švýcárna.


How to reach EVC Švýcárna


  1. By public transport: there is railway station (and one additional stop) in Adamov with trains frequently departing (every half an hour in working days) to and from Brno and Blansko. From Adamov you can reach EVC Švýcárna taking the bus 157, which covers the route Vyškov-Adamov (every 2 hours in working days); other alternatives would be walking or cycling.

  2. By private vehicle: from Brno you must take the second class road number 374 or the number 379 if you are coming from Blansko or Vyškov (see map).

The center


The complex consists of three buildings:

  1. Švýcárna, the main structure; nowadays it is used as a restaurant, lodging and lecture hall for events (Hnutí Brontosaurus Modrý kámen and other NGOs) and school programmes.

  2. Zadní Trakt, the secondary building, is divided in three modules: in the right one you can find the office, the accommodation for employees and volunteers, as well as a common room for youth events; in the central part, there are several storage rooms with different functions; and finally, in the left side, there is a porch called Kuželkárna used for leisure time activities and festivities in late spring and summer.

  3. And finally we have Seník, which is currently being restored in order to increase the capacity of the facilities to hold courses and workshops in the near future.

Josefov valley
Stará huť
Seník
Švýcárna and Zadní Trakt (left)
In the Moravian karst there have been recorded more than 2000 species of butterflies and 21 species of bats.
This is the closest train stop
The Macocha abyss and the Punkevní cave (photo), as well as 4 more public caves, are quite close to Švýcárna.
kameny