Kašparův vrch

Kašparův vrch is a small but scientifically significant nature monument near the village of Volduchy in the Rokycany District of the Czech Republic. Covering just 0.0964 hectares, this protected site sits at an elevation of 394–400 meters, roughly one kilometer southwest of the village center, on the left side of the road connecting Volduchy to Rokycany.

What does this nature monument protect?

The site was protected for its rock outcrop of shale containing rich fossil fauna of graptolites from the Klabava Formation of the Czech Ordovician. Graptolites were extinct colonial marine organisms whose fossils are among the most important stratigraphic markers used worldwide to date and correlate rock layers. The presence of such a well-preserved locality in the Rokycany region makes Kašparův vrch a valuable reference point for geologists and paleontologists studying the Ordovician period in this part of Central Europe.

How was the site discovered?

The paleontological locality was discovered in the 1920s by a local teacher, Vojtěch Kraft. His find caught the attention of the scientific community, and the site received its first professional examination and description from Czech geologist and paleontologist Bedřich Bouček in 1933. Bouček's work gave the locality formal standing in the scientific literature and paved the way for its later legal protection.

When and how was it protected?

The area was formally designated a protected nature monument by the Rokycany District National Committee, with the decision taking effect on September 5, 1989. Since then, Kašparův vrch has been listed in the Czech register of protected natural monuments, valued for its geological and paleontological significance despite its small footprint.

Can visitors reach the site?

The area is freely accessible, with no fences or entry restrictions, but no marked hiking or cycling trails lead directly to it. Visitors typically approach on foot from the road between Volduchy and Rokycany, relying on the site's general location rather than any tourist infrastructure, since none is present on the ground.

Frequently asked questions

What can you see at Kašparův vrch? A rock outcrop of Ordovician shale with preserved graptolite fossils — there is no marked educational trail or information panels on site.

Is Kašparův vrch suitable for a family outing? The site's value is primarily scientific rather than touristic; the absence of trails and infrastructure means visitors need to navigate independently.

Why is this site important for science? Because of its well-preserved graptolite fossils from the Klabava Formation, which help date and correlate Ordovician rocks in the region and beyond.

When is the best time to visit? Given the lack of tourist infrastructure and the site's small size, it is best visited during daylight with good visibility, using a map or GPS navigation to locate it.