Roudný (natural monument)

Roudný is a small nature monument protecting the remains of a former gold mine, located in the Zvěstov municipality within the Benešov district, on the cadastral territory of Bořkovice — close to the village of Libouň in the Central Bohemian Region. The site was granted protected status in 1994 and preserves what remains of the once highly productive Roudný gold mine, said to have been one of the most profitable mines in the entire Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

What exactly is being protected here?

Unlike many nature reserves built around dramatic rock formations or old-growth forest, Roudný's protected core is a mining spoil heap — a mound of waste material left behind by gold extraction. Over time, this human-made, seemingly unremarkable landscape feature developed into a specialised habitat for species adapted to open, sandy, nutrient-poor conditions. That ecological value is precisely why the site earned formal protection as a "natural monument," one of the smaller categories of protected areas in the Czech nature conservation system.

Why is a mining spoil heap worth protecting?

The main reason for Roudný's protection is the presence of a rare beetle, Cicindela arenaria ssp. viennensis, a subspecies of tiger beetle. Based on current records, this is the only known site where the subspecies occurs within Bohemia proper, making Roudný disproportionately important for insect conservation relative to its modest size. Tiger beetles of this kind depend on open, sun-exposed sandy surfaces for burrowing and hunting, so a disused mining heap — despite its industrial origin — can end up functioning as a substitute habitat for species that are losing ground in more heavily vegetated natural landscapes.

The site is also valued by mycologists. Its sandy, mineral-poor patches support fungi that need exactly this kind of substrate, including species classified as critically endangered. The combination of a rare insect population and endangered fungi means this small patch of former industrial land carries outsized ecological significance.

The connection to Libouň and the gold-mining past

Roudný sits close to the village of Libouň, and the two are linked by a shared mining history — the old mining settlements around Roudný were closely tied to the nearby Church of St. Wenceslas in Libouň, which served as a focal point for the local community connected to the extraction works. The Roudný gold mine was regarded as one of the most profitable in the whole Austro-Hungarian Empire, and traces of that activity — including the spoil heap itself — still shape this corner of the Central Bohemian landscape today.

To help visitors understand this history, a nature and heritage trail has been laid out around the area of the former Roudný gold mine, guiding walkers through the post-mining terrain and connecting the region's industrial past with its present-day ecological value.

How should you visit?

Roudný is a low-key site without the developed visitor infrastructure typical of larger reserves — its value lies in the specificity of the habitat rather than in dramatic scenery. Visitors are encouraged to stick to marked paths, avoid stepping onto the protected sandy patches where the beetles live and breed, and refrain from collecting fungi within the protected area. The best time to observe the beetles is during the warmer months, when adults are active on sun-warmed sand.

For anyone interested in the intersection of mining heritage, entomology, and mycology, Roudný is a rare example of a place where industrial legacy and ecological value reinforce rather than contradict each other.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly does the Roudný natural monument protect? It protects a former mining spoil heap from the Roudný gold mine, which serves as habitat for the rare tiger beetle Cicindela arenaria ssp. viennensis and for critically endangered fungi.

When was the area given protected status? It was declared a protected natural monument in 1994.

Where exactly is Roudný located? On the cadastral territory of Bořkovice, within the Zvěstov municipality in the Benešov district, close to the village of Libouň in the Central Bohemian Region.

Why is the beetle Cicindela arenaria ssp. viennensis significant here? Because, based on current records, Roudný is the only known site in Bohemia proper where this subspecies occurs.

Can visitors still see traces of the historic gold mine? Yes — the protected spoil heap is itself a remnant of the mining operation, and a nature and heritage trail runs through the surrounding area, referencing the former gold mine.