Rokycanská stráň

Rokycanská stráň is a protected nature monument on the northern edge of Rokycany in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic, safeguarding one of the country's most significant geological and paleontological sites. Covering just under 21 hectares on the left bank of the Klabava River, the reserve is made up of four separate, non-contiguous sections: Kalvárie, Husovy sady, Valcha, and Drahouš.

Why is this site protected?

The area was granted protected status in 1981 by decree of the former Rokycany District National Committee. The reason lies in the exceptional geological record preserved in the local clay shales, spanning nearly ten million years of Ordovician time. Three of the four sections — Kalvárie, Husovy sady, and Valcha — expose clay shales containing fauna of the Klabava Formation, while Drahouš reveals outcrops of the older Šárka Formation layers.

What can be found in the rock layers?

Rokycanská stráň is renowned for its fossil richness: more than 50 species have been described from the site, including trilobites, brachiopods, graptolites, and crustaceans. Many of these species were first scientifically described from specimens collected here, giving the location international scientific significance. The unbroken continuity of the rock record makes the site a benchmark used to correlate geological time across different regions of the world — one of the finest such sequences in Central Europe.

Is it only a site for geologists?

Not exclusively. Part of the protected area, particularly the Husovy sady gardens and the Kalvárie hill, also functions as a park and viewpoint for the residents of Rokycany, offering a popular walking spot right at the edge of the town center. This dual role — scientific reserve and recreational green space — is unusual for a protected area of this size.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Rokycanská stráň located? On the northern edge of Rokycany, on the left bank of the Klabava River, in the Rokycany District of the Plzeň Region.

How large is the protected area? About 20.84 hectares, divided into four separate sections: Kalvárie, Husovy sady, Valcha, and Drahouš.

Since when has the area been protected? It was designated a protected nature monument in 1981.

What makes this site unique? An Ordovician fossil record with more than 50 described species, many first identified here for science, plus a continuous geological sequence used as an international reference point.

Can visitors simply walk through it? Yes, part of the area (Husovy sady and Kalvárie) functions as a public park open for walking.