Cikánka I

Cikánka I is a small but ecologically remarkable nature reserve on the upper slopes of the Radotín Valley and the adjoining plateau above the former Na Cikánce quarries, within the Radotínsko – Chuchelský háj nature park in Prague. The site lies between Zadní Kopanina and Lochkov and can be reached via the red-marked tourist trail from Slivenec or Chotěč, with the Lomy bus stop offering the nearest access point.

Why was this site protected?

Covering 4.55 hectares, the reserve has held protected status since 1988. It was established to safeguard warm-loving rocky steppe vegetation on the largest area of this habitat type found anywhere in Prague. The plateau retains an extensive fragment of steppe grassland dominated by feather grass (Stipa capillata), spread across 4.6 hectares – the largest such stand within the Czech capital. Alongside feather grass, the sward also includes Festuca valesiaca subsp. sulcata, Poa angustifolia, and Bromus rigidus.

What geology lies beneath the steppe?

The bedrock consists of limestone layers of the Prague Formation, belonging to the Pragian and Zlíchov stages of the Lower Devonian. These layers do not surface within the reserve itself, but they are exposed in the nearby historic Na Cikánce quarries, which have supplied valuable stone for centuries.

What is the historical significance of the neighboring quarry?

The quarries adjacent to the reserve once produced Slivenec marble, the best-known ornamental stone of central Bohemia. Evidence of quarrying dates back to the 13th century. Stone from this quarry was used for most of the dated tombstones in Prague's Old Jewish Cemetery, for the pink paving blocks found on Prague's sidewalks, and for cladding stones used in numerous 17th- and 18th-century Prague Baroque churches.

What wildlife lives on the steppes of Cikánka I?

The warm, sun-exposed rocky steppes provide favorable habitat for numerous butterfly species, including rare and threatened ones. Among them are the critically endangered brown hairstreak (Thecla betulae) and the threatened Chapman's blue (Polyommatus thersites). This insect richness is a direct result of preserving such an extensive, undisturbed patch of steppe vegetation – a rare occurrence within a large urban agglomeration.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Cikánka I located? On the upper slopes of the Radotín Valley and the plateau above the Na Cikánce quarries, between Zadní Kopanina and Lochkov, within Prague's Radotínsko – Chuchelský háj nature park.

Since when has the area been protected, and how large is it? The 4.55-hectare reserve has been protected as a national nature monument since 1988.

What makes this site unique within Prague? It preserves the largest surviving fragment of warm-loving rocky steppe with feather grass anywhere in Prague, spanning 4.6 hectares.

How can visitors reach the reserve? Via the red-marked tourist trail from Slivenec or Chotěč, with the Lomy bus stop as the nearest public transport access point.

What is the reserve's connection to Slivenec marble? The neighboring Na Cikánce quarries have supplied Slivenec marble since the 13th century, used in Prague's Old Jewish Cemetery and in the city's Baroque churches.