Opatřilka - Červený lom

Opatřilka – Červený lom is a former limestone quarry in the Dalejský Valley in Prague, ranked among the region's most important geological sites. Until 2020, the eight-hectare-plus area held the status of a natural monument before being merged into the larger Prokopské údolí nature reserve. The site sits within the Prague districts of Hlubočepy and Jinonice, inside the Prokopské and Dalejské Valleys landscape park.

Why is this site geologically significant?

The quarry walls expose rock profiles spanning the boundary between the Silurian and Devonian periods, epochs hundreds of millions of years apart. In 1972, one of the exposed profiles here was described as corresponding to the international stratotype for the Silurian-Devonian boundary — a designation that gives the site scientific relevance far beyond the Czech Republic. The limestone layers preserve numerous fossils, which is why Opatřilka – Červený lom has long drawn geologists, paleontologists, and earth-science students.

Where does the name come from, and what is the quarrying history?

The name "Červený lom" ("Red Quarry") refers to the reddish tint of some of the exposed rock. Large-scale limestone extraction began here in the early 19th century, with the stone used for lime production and as building material for nearby farmsteads. Quarrying ended in the 1940s. During the war, a small labor camp operated in the area; a large, now overgrown spoil heap from that period, made up of low-grade extracted material, is still visible today — a physical trace of that history embedded in the landscape.

What can visitors see today?

After extraction stopped, the former quarry gradually became overgrown, forming a mosaic of warm-loving grasslands and scrub typical of the limestone bedrock found throughout the Bohemian Karst. These plant communities, alongside the paleontological and stratigraphic value of the rock exposures, were among the main reasons the area was placed under protection. A green-marked hiking trail and an educational nature path run through the valley along the Dalejský stream, with Červený lom serving as one of its themed stops, complete with information panels explaining the geology on display.

How to get to Opatřilka – Červený lom

The site lies in western Prague, within the Dalejský Valley, and is easily reached on foot from the Hlubočepy or Nové Butovice metro stations, both connected by a marked path following the stream. It makes for a pleasant, easy walk that combines nature and geology without needing to leave the city.

Frequently asked questions

Is Opatřilka – Červený lom still a separate nature reserve? Not as an independent site — since August 1, 2020, the area has been part of the larger Prokopské údolí nature reserve, though the quarry itself remains protected within it.

What can be seen at the quarry? Exposed rock walls showing limestone layers spanning the Silurian-Devonian boundary, remnants of historical quarrying, and warm-loving grasslands that have grown over the former workings.

Is there an educational trail? Yes, an educational nature path runs through the Dalejský Valley alongside a green-marked hiking trail, with Červený lom as one of its stops.

How easy is it to reach? It's most convenient on foot from the Hlubočepy or Nové Butovice metro stations, a walk of roughly fifteen to thirty minutes along the stream valley.