Muckovské vápencové lomy

Muckovské vápencové lomy (Muckov Limestone Quarries) is a protected nature monument located just west of the hamlet of Muckov, part of the municipality of Černá v Pošumaví, in the Český Krumlov district of South Bohemia. The site combines a distinctive mining past, unusual geology, and a valuable wildlife habitat, making it one of the more intriguing yet lesser-known natural sites in the region.

The mining history

Limestone was quarried here from the 17th century until the 1920s. The stone had a surprisingly wide range of uses: it served as a filler in the production of synthetic rubber, as a general filling material, and was even shipped as far as Paris, where it was used in the manufacture of cosmetic powders. Centuries of extraction left behind a complex network of workings that today form the site's main attraction.

What the quarries look like

What sets the Muckov quarries apart is the unusual mining method used here. Instead of open-pit extraction, miners worked the limestone using a pit-and-pillar technique, deliberately leaving sections of rock in place to support the excavated chambers. As a result, the old workings resemble semi-underground halls rather than ordinary open quarries. The largest, central quarry measures 50 by 20 metres and reaches a depth of 4 metres, with an underground hall featuring several massive pillars separating chambers 8 to 10 metres wide. One of the most striking features is an artificial stone gate, 10 metres wide and 7 metres high, carved out during the extraction of the deposit.

Why the site is protected

Protection here covers several dimensions at once. First, the workings themselves represent a significant geological phenomenon: a rarely seen form of deep limestone mining that has preserved its supporting pillars intact. Second, the abandoned chambers and galleries have become a winter and summer refuge for nine species of bats, which have been the subject of long-term scientific research at the site. Third, the surrounding area is a botanical site home to protected plant species associated with limestone bedrock, a substrate that is uncommon in this part of the Czech Republic, where crystalline rocks otherwise dominate.

The area is managed by the Regional Authority of the South Bohemian Region, which oversees the preservation of both its geological and ecological values.

Can you visit Muckovské vápencové lomy?

The site is currently closed to the public for safety reasons. The unusual mining method left behind semi-underground chambers, but over time these have become increasingly prone to rockfalls, with slabs of dolomitic limestone detaching and collapsing from the chamber ceilings. Because of the instability of the rock ceilings, entry into the former workings is prohibited.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly are the Muckov limestone quarries located? West of the hamlet of Muckov, within the municipality of Černá v Pošumaví, in the Český Krumlov district.

What was the limestone from this site used for? As a filler for synthetic rubber and other filling materials, and even for cosmetic powders produced in Paris.

Can visitors enter the quarry chambers? No — the site is closed to the public due to the risk of rockfalls from unstable ceilings.

What wildlife lives here? The former workings serve as a winter and summer shelter for nine species of bats.