Lomy Mořina

Lomy Mořina is a striking complex of former limestone quarries in the Czech Karst, right next to the village of Mořina and only a few kilometers from Karlštejn Castle. The site is best known by the nicknames of its individual pits — Velká Amerika (Big America), Malá Amerika (Little America) and Mexiko — which today draw hikers and photographers thanks to their dramatic, canyon-like scenery.

Why is it called "Amerika"?

The name references the canyons of the American West. Steep, multicolored rock walls dropping toward turquoise lakes genuinely evoke landscapes associated with the western United States. The contrast between pale limestone, vegetation clinging to the slopes, and the vivid color of the water has made this one of the most photographed spots in central Bohemia.

How long was limestone mined here?

The earliest records of limestone extraction in the Czech Karst date back to the 14th century — in 1320, Czech King John of Luxembourg granted local residents the right to burn limestone. The real boom, however, came in the 19th century, when the growth of blast furnace metallurgy, particularly the ironworks around Kladno, drove intensive quarrying of limestone as a raw material for iron and steel production. Industrial-scale mining at Velká Amerika accelerated after World War I and continued through most of the 20th century, until it was halted in 1963 following a major collapse of the quarry walls.

A dark chapter: the forced labor camp

The history of Lomy Mořina also carries a grim legacy. On May 4, 1949, a forced labor unit modeled on Soviet gulags was established at the limestone quarries near Mořina and Karlštejn. Conditions were so inhumane that the camp became notorious as one of the worst penal labor facilities in Czechoslovakia at the time. Between 1949 and 1953, roughly two thousand prisoners passed through the unit; many endured only two weeks to three months of hard labor before being sent to the prison hospital, physically and psychologically broken. Modest memorials in the area today recall this history and the price paid by those forced to work in these pits.

What can visitors see today?

Today the former quarry grounds are a popular destination for hikers and cyclists coming from Karlštejn and the surrounding villages. Steep, multi-tiered rock faces, remnants of underground mining tunnels and galleries, and natural lakes with an intense turquoise color create a landscape quite unlike the typical Czech countryside. Some pits remain partially active or fenced off for safety, so visitors are advised to stick to marked paths and stay well back from the cliff edges.

Is it worth combining with a visit to Karlštejn Castle?

Its proximity to the famous Karlštejn Castle makes Lomy Mořina a natural add-on to a day trip: after touring the castle, visitors can walk or cycle over to the quarries and spend an afternoon among the unusual, colorful rock formations. It's an appealing option for travelers looking for a less obvious regional attraction, one that combines industrial history, a difficult 20th-century legacy, and striking scenery all in one place.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Lomy Mořina independently? The area is partly accessible to visitors, but it's recommended to stay on marked trails, since many of the former quarry edges are steep and unsecured.

How far is it from Karlštejn Castle? The quarries lie right next to the village of Mořina, just a few kilometers from the castle, making it easy to combine both stops in a single trip.

Is limestone still being extracted here? Some of the historic pits, such as Velká Amerika, were closed after wall collapses in the 1960s, though newer, active quarrying operations still exist in the wider region.