Ghosts go underground: Koněprusy Caves plan Halloween tours near Prague

The limestone chambers of Koněprusy Caves will become a setting for ghosts, mysterious characters and legends during five days of special tours over the Czech autumn school break.

Running from Wednesday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 1, the event combines Halloween with the approaching Czech remembrance tradition of Dušičky, or All Souls’ Day.

Visitors will follow an alternative to the usual sightseeing tour, encountering characters inspired by fairy tales, legends and stories, Czech Cave Administration spokesperson Pavel Gejdoš told the Czech News Agency.

Cave manager Michaela Nedvědová said the tours would introduce mysterious figures connected with Koněprusy Caves and beyond, with additional surprises along the way.

Organizers are inviting both adults and children, but the experience is not suitable for children younger than 3. Parents are also advised to consider how comfortably their children handle frightening situations before booking.

Tickets should be purchased in advance through the official Koněprusy Caves website. Tickets will be available on arrival only if spaces remain.

The dates coincide with a convenient window for family outings. The Oct. 28 public holiday is followed by school autumn holidays on Oct. 29–30 and then the weekend.

While Halloween supplies the event’s ghosts and spooky atmosphere, Dušičky has a different place in Czech tradition. Observed Nov. 2, it is primarily a time to remember the dead, with families visiting cemeteries and lighting candles.

The cave event draws on the season’s interest in mysterious stories rather than offering a conventional observance of that remembrance day.

Around seven kilometers south of Beroun, within the Český kras protected landscape area, Koněprusy offers plenty of atmosphere even without costumed inhabitants.

The caves formed in Devonian limestone up to 410 million years old. With approximately 2,050 meters of passages and a vertical range exceeding 70 meters, they make up the largest cave system in Bohemia.

Their significance extends beyond stalactites and stalagmites. Sediments within the caves contain important paleontological and archaeological evidence, preserving traces of the area’s natural and human history.

One of the most unusual chapters is a clandestine counterfeiting workshop that operated in the upper level during the 15th century—a genuine underground secret alongside the fictional characters appearing during the seasonal tours.

The caves were discovered in 1950 and opened to the public in 1959. They now receive approximately 80,000 visitors annually.