Kamenná hůra

Kamenná hůra is a nature reserve stretching between the villages of Merboltice, Malý Šachov, and Valkeřice in the Děčín district, at the northeastern edge of the Czech Central Highlands (České středohoří). The reserve's highest point is the Kamenec hill, reaching 519 meters above sea level. It combines a rugged volcanic-rubble landscape with an unusually delicate microclimate, drawing both hikers and nature enthusiasts looking for something genuinely rare in the Central European landscape.

What makes this place unique?

At the heart of the reserve lie extensive basalt scree fields — among the largest of their kind in the whole Czech Central Highlands. Beneath the steep northern slopes are so-called ice pits: gaps between the boulders where ice persists for most of the year. This effect, driven by natural airflow through the scree, means that air escaping the crevices feels cool in summer and noticeably warmer than the surroundings in winter. The result is a small pocket of microclimate inside the reserve that resembles conditions found much farther north.

What plants and wildlife live here?

The cool, moist microclimate around the ice pits has allowed communities typical of arctic tundra to take hold — rare and endangered species of mosses and liverworts that are otherwise exceptionally uncommon in this part of Europe. The rock fields and the accompanying scree woodland (forest growing directly on rocky talus) support specialized plant and animal communities adapted to such unstable, demanding ground conditions. The boulders themselves are colonized by pioneer organisms — lichens and mosses — which are the first to settle on bare rock and give the whole area its stark, near-polar character.

Why is it worth visiting?

Kamenná hůra appeals to travelers who value contact with raw, largely untamed nature. Walking across the scree fields brings visitors close to geological and climatic phenomena rarely encountered elsewhere in the Czech Republic — the contrast between summer heat on open ground and the cold air drifting out of the boulder crevices leaves an impression on anyone who pauses by the ice pits. It is also a rewarding stop for nature observers: for botanists and moss or lichen enthusiasts, the reserve functions as a refuge for species that have largely disappeared or survive only in remnants elsewhere in the region.

Its location between Merboltice, Malý Šachov, and Valkeřice makes the reserve a natural addition to longer hiking routes through the Czech Central Highlands, easily combined with visits to nearby hills and villages.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Kamenná hůra located? The reserve lies in the Děčín district of the Ústí nad Labem Region, between the villages of Merboltice, Malý Šachov, and Valkeřice, in the northeastern part of the Czech Central Highlands.

What is protected within the reserve? Protection focuses on the basalt scree fields and permanent ice pits, along with the rare mosses and liverworts that depend on the specific microclimate these features create.

What is the highest point of the area? The highest point is Kamenec hill, at 519 meters above sea level.

What are the ice pits at Kamenná hůra? They are gaps between the boulders of the scree field where ice remains for most of the year, caused by natural air ventilation through the rock pile — a phenomenon rarely found outside high-mountain terrain.