Čerňava

Čerňava is an 844-metre hill in the Hostýnské vrchy mountains, right next to the village of Rajnochovice in Moravia. The summit is built of flysch sandstones and conglomerates of the Soláň layers, typical of the geology of this part of the Western Carpathians. The hill lies within the Hostýnské vrchy Nature Park and ranks among the most popular hiking destinations around Rajnochovice.

What can visitors see at the summit?

Hidden among sandstone boulders at the very top stands a monument to Captain I.P. Steponov, a former commissioner of the 1st Czechoslovak Partisan Brigade of Jan Žižka. It commemorates the partisan resistance active in the Hostýnské vrchy during the Second World War and is a common destination for walks through the forest leading up to the summit.

What is the Čerňava nature reserve?

On the eastern slope of the hill, on the left side of the Rosošný stream valley, lies the Čerňava nature reserve. Protected since 1975, it covers 18.13 hectares at an altitude of 570 to 730 metres, about 1.5 km northeast of the Tesák recreation centre.

What does the reserve protect?

The reserve safeguards a preserved remnant of primeval Carpathian forest — a fir-beech stand up to 280 years old growing on the eastern slope of Čerňava. Most of the reserve is covered by flowering beech forest and slope forest, which give way to open ground with exposed sandstone rocks in the upper part. The old-growth stand and natural character of the forest make this a valuable example of Carpathian forest vegetation largely untouched by forestry management.

How does Čerňava fit into the Hostýnské vrchy landscape?

Together with Kelčský Javorník (865 m), Čerňava is one of the highest peaks of the Hostýnské vrchy range. The whole area falls within a quiet zone of the Hostýnské vrchy Nature Park, which includes several specially protected areas and a Natura 2000 site, among them a bird protection area. Rajnochovice, situated at the northern foot of the range in the valley of the Juhyně river, is one of the main gateways into these mountains and a popular base for visitors exploring the Hostýnské vrchy.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Čerňava? The summit reaches 844 metres above sea level.

Where is Čerňava located? In the Hostýnské vrchy mountains, right next to the village of Rajnochovice, east of the town of Bystřice pod Hostýnem.

What is at the summit? A monument to Captain I.P. Steponov, former commissioner of the 1st Czechoslovak Partisan Brigade of Jan Žižka, hidden among sandstone boulders.

What is the Čerňava nature reserve? A protected remnant of primeval Carpathian forest covering 18.13 hectares on the hill's eastern slope, protected since 1975 and including fir-beech stands up to 280 years old.

What rock forms the summit? Flysch sandstones and conglomerates of the Soláň layers.