Rovninské balvany

Rovninské balvany is a small but geologically remarkable nature monument in Ostrava, located in the Moravská Ostrava district on the right bank of the Ostravice river, close to the Černá louka exhibition grounds. It consists of ten glacial erratic boulders that have survived for tens of thousands of years as tangible proof of how far a continental ice sheet once reached into this part of Central Europe.

Where did these boulders come from?

The story of the Rovninské balvany begins far from Ostrava, in a sand pit near Hlučín-Rovniny in the Opava district. It was there, in 1958, that Dr. V. Tilík discovered ten large glacial boulders during sand extraction. After being unearthed, the boulders were buried again and remained hidden for six more years, until reclamation work brought them back to the surface. In 1964 the decision was made to relocate them to Ostrava, where they were arranged into today's nature monument — the same year the site received legal protection.

What kind of rock are they made of?

The boulders are composed of pinkish biotite granite, banded and porphyritic granite, and quartzitic gneiss. Their origin is Scandinavian: they were carried to the area of present-day Ostrava by a continental ice sheet during the Saalian glaciation. As such, they serve as physical evidence of how far south the ice extended at the time, dragging along fragments of crystalline rock from distant Scandinavia.

Why does this site matter scientifically?

Erratic boulders like these are a valuable source of information for geologists and glaciologists. They help reconstruct the routes taken by glaciers and establish the maximum extent of past glaciations in Central Europe. Despite its modest physical footprint as a protected area, Rovninské balvany ranks among the more notable sites of its kind in the Opava and Cieszyn Silesia region, documenting geological processes from tens of thousands of years ago.

Where exactly are the boulders located?

The nature monument lies in the central part of Ostrava, in the Moravská Ostrava district, near the Černá louka exhibition complex, right along the bank of the Ostravice river. This central location makes the site easy to reach for both residents and visitors exploring the city center — no trip outside Ostrava is needed to see evidence of the last Ice Age.

Is it worth visiting while touring Ostrava?

Rovninské balvany is a good pick for anyone combining a city visit with an interest in nature and geology. The site doesn't require a long excursion or special preparation — a short walk near Černá louka is enough to see boulders that traveled to today's Czech Republic all the way from Scandinavia hundreds of thousands of years ago.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rovninské balvany? It is a nature monument in Ostrava made up of ten glacial erratic boulders of Scandinavian origin, evidence of the extent of a past ice sheet.

Where were the boulders originally found? In a sand pit near Hlučín-Rovniny in the Opava district, discovered in 1958 by Dr. V. Tilík.

When were they moved to Ostrava? In 1964, the same year the site was declared a protected nature monument.

What kind of rock are the boulders made of? Pinkish biotite granite, banded and porphyritic granite, and quartzitic gneiss.

Where in Ostrava can they be seen? In the Moravská Ostrava district, near the Černá louka exhibition grounds, along the right bank of the Ostravice river.