Lom Chlum

Lom Chlum is a flooded quarry and protected nature monument on the southern edge of the Chlum hill, between the villages of Dolní Lomnice and Mirošovice, within the municipality of Kunice in the Prague-East district. The village of Vidovice, today part of Kunice, sits roughly 3 kilometres northwest of the quarry, making it an easy short trip for anyone staying in the area.

From working quarry to hidden retreat

The quarry was worked for granodiorite, a hard igneous rock typical of this part of Central Bohemia. Stone extraction stopped at the beginning of the 1960s, and the abandoned pit gradually filled with water, forming a deep lake bordered on one side by managed forest and on the other by private land.

Rather than falling into ruin, the quarry's old buildings and a former blacksmith's workshop were later rented and eventually purchased by sculptor Slavoj Nejdl together with graphic artist and film-poster designer Vratislav Hlavatý. The two men converted the site into a hacienda-like retreat with a terrace overlooking the flooded pit, which over time became a gathering place for well-known artists. Writer Bohumil Hrabal also visited the quarry and featured it in his book "I Served the King of England."

Why the site is protected

The 7.5-hectare area has been under legal protection since 1992 as a nature monument (přírodní památka). The reason for protection is the flooded quarry itself, which provides valuable habitat for amphibians and reptiles. The site supports significant bird life, herpetofauna and batrachofauna, including several protected animal species. Among the birds recorded here is the eagle owl (Bubo bubo), and the surrounding forest hosts numerous colonies of forest ants.

Ownership and visiting the site

The quarry is owned by the municipality and forms part of a protected landscape area. Access is only possible through private land, so visiting requires care and respect for the boundaries of the neighbouring properties — this is not an open public park. A management plan for the Lom Chlum nature monument covering the period 2018–2028 sets out the rules for protecting the habitats and species found on the site.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Lom Chlum located? The quarry lies between the villages of Dolní Lomnice and Mirošovice, on the southern edge of the Chlum hill, within the municipality of Kunice in the Prague-East district, about 3 km from Vidovice.

Since when has the area been protected? It was designated a nature monument in 1992, covering a protected area of 7.5 hectares.

What wildlife can be found here? The site is a refuge for amphibians and reptiles, and its bird species include the eagle owl. The surrounding forest is home to numerous colonies of forest ants.

Can visitors freely explore the quarry? Access runs through private land, so visiting requires caution and respect for the neighbouring properties — it is not a freely accessible public park.

What cultural significance does the site have? The former quarry buildings were turned into a retreat that became a meeting place for artists, and the quarry itself appears in the work of writer Bohumil Hrabal.