Cikánka II

Cikánka II is a small but geologically significant natural monument within Prague, located in the Prague 16 (Radotín) district, between the settlements of Zadní Kopanina and Lochkov. The protected area covers just 2.36 hectares at an elevation of 297 to 313 meters above sea level. Despite its modest size, it ranks among the most valuable natural sites in the Czech capital.

What is Cikánka II?

The site consists of two parts of a former quarry that once formed part of the Slivenec quarries. Pink Slivenec limestone (marble) was extracted here, a decorative stone known and used since the 13th century as one of the most common building materials in central Bohemia. The Prague National Committee placed the area under protection in 1988, designating it a natural monument.

Why is the site protected?

The main reason for protection is geological and paleontological. Exposed rock layers at the boundary between the Lochkov and Slivenec (Prague) formations contain significant fossil finds that document the region's ancient marine environment. The disused quarry workings expose rock strata that remain of ongoing interest to geologists and paleontologists.

What flora and fauna occur in the area?

The rocky, steppe-like habitats formed on limestone bedrock favor rare species associated with warm, stony terrain. Among mollusks, species typical of rocky steppes occur here, such as Granaria frumentum and Pupilla sterri. The site also supports relict steppe species among phytophagous beetles, mainly from the leaf beetle and weevil families. On the neighboring Cikánka I site, which is geologically and ecologically connected to Cikánka II, rare legally protected plants grow, including feather grass (Stipa pennata), Centaurea triumfettii subsp. axillaris, tassel grape hyacinth (Muscari tenuiflorum), and the Bohemian meadow pasque flower (Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. bohemica).

Where exactly is Cikánka II located?

The site lies in the southwestern part of Prague, within the Radotínsko-Chuchelský háj Nature Park, between Zadní Kopanina and Lochkov, administratively part of Prague 16 (Radotín). It is one of the smallest protected areas within the city.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors access Cikánka II? The area lies within a nature park and borders hiking trails running through the Radotín and Lochkov surroundings, but as a protected site it requires care and adherence to nature conservation rules.

How does Cikánka II differ from Cikánka I? The two sites lie close together and are geologically connected, having formed within the same former Slivenec limestone quarries. Cikánka I holds the status of a national natural monument and is better documented in terms of its flora and fauna, while Cikánka II is a smaller, separately protected part of the same geological complex.

Since when has the area been protected? The Prague National Committee established protection for Cikánka II in 1988, primarily due to the geological and paleontological value of the exposed rock layers.

What was mined in the former quarry? Pink Slivenec marble was mined here — a limestone known and used as a decorative stone since the 13th century, one of the most recognizable building materials of central Bohemia.