Lom u Radimi

Lom u Radimi is a small but geologically remarkable nature monument located west of the village of Radim in the Kolín district of the Czech Republic. Covering just 0.12 hectares, this protected area consists of the wall of a former quarry, situated between the southwestern edge of the village and the Chotutice railway station, on the left bank of the Výrovka stream.

Where did this quarry come from?

The quarry was worked to supply stone chiefly for the construction of the Pečky–Kouřim railway line between 1880 and 1882. Extraction continued for decades afterward, finally ending in 1958. What remains today is a near-vertical rock wall standing 15 to 22 meters high, made of Kouřim orthogneisses belonging to the Kutná Hora crystalline complex.

Why is this site protected?

The natural value of Lom u Radimi lies not in the rock itself, but in what was found inside it. Two pocket-shaped depressions in the quarry wall were formed by coastal marine erosion, and these depressions later filled with sediments deposited by a shallow sea during the Upper Cretaceous period, roughly 70 million years ago. Within these sediments, paleontologists discovered numerous fossils of marine fauna — sponges, bryozoans, brachiopods, and mollusks. This makes Lom u Radimi a valuable paleontological site, offering a window into life in the shallow Cretaceous sea that once covered this part of the present-day Czech Republic.

Because of this scientific significance, the site was declared a protected area on February 8, 1977, by decision of the Regional National Committee of the Central Bohemia region. It is now listed in the Central Nature Conservation Register under registration number 308.

What can visitors see today?

In 2013, the quarry wall was cleared of invasive vegetation that had begun overgrowing the rock exposure and obscuring its geological layers. As part of the educational project "Cestou za trilobity" ("On the Trail of Trilobites"), the site was equipped with directional signs and an information panel, allowing visitors to learn about the site's geological history and significance on their own.

Lom u Radimi is a destination of particular interest to geology and paleontology enthusiasts. Given its small size and specific character — an exposed rock wall of a former quarry — it isn't a typical full-day attraction, but rather a short, informative stop when exploring the area around Kolín and the village of Radim.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Lom u Radimi located? The site lies west of the village of Radim, between its southwestern edge and the Chotutice railway station, on the left bank of the Výrovka stream, in the Kolín district.

How large is this protected area? The nature monument covers just 0.1206 hectares — a small, concentrated site centered on the wall of a former quarry.

Why is the quarry in Radim protected? Because of marine fauna fossils from the Upper Cretaceous period (around 70 million years ago) — sponges, bryozoans, brachiopods, and mollusks — preserved in two erosion-formed depressions in the rock wall.

When was this site protected? It was declared a protected nature monument on February 8, 1977, by decision of the Regional National Committee of the Central Bohemia region.

What kind of rock forms the quarry wall? The 15–22 meter wall is composed of Kouřim orthogneisses, part of the Kutná Hora crystalline complex.

Are there any visitor facilities on site? Yes, as part of the "Cestou za trilobity" project, directional and information signs were installed to support self-guided visits.