About this place
Štola Stradonice is a small but ecologically important nature reserve on the southern edge of the village of Stradonice, north of the town of Peruc, in the Louny district of the Czech Republic. The protected area covers roughly 10 hectares and includes an abandoned mining adit together with the surrounding slope above the Débeřský stream.
Where does the adit come from?
The gallery was dug during exploration work connected with the extraction of fire-resistant kaolin clays. These occur in freshwater Upper Cretaceous deposits of the Peruc-Korycany formation, made up of claystone, marlstone and sandstone. The main gallery runs for about 150 metres, with four shorter side passages branching off it. The rock overburden above the workings reaches 30 to 40 metres, which keeps the interior at a stable, cool and humid microclimate year-round.
Why is the site protected?
The adit was granted protected status in 1999, not for its geological value but because it is the only known permanent winter hibernation site for several endangered bat species in the Louny district. The conditions inside the disused mine — constant temperature and high humidity — are ideal for hibernating mammals. Species recorded wintering there include the barbastelle bat, greater mouse-eared bat, whiskered bat, Daubenton's bat, brown long-eared bat and lesser horseshoe bat. For some of these species, this is the only stable wintering site in the entire region, making the unassuming adit a key part of the local bat conservation network.
Can visitors go inside?
The entrance to the adit is located on the valley slope, about 30 metres above the Débeřský stream. The opening is fitted with a locked gate that protects the hibernating bats from disturbance and prevents uncontrolled access to the interior. The reserve is therefore not open for tourist exploration in the usual sense — its value lies in preserving the habitat itself, not in the possibility of exploring the underground passages.
What should you know before visiting the area?
While the interior of the adit remains off-limits, the surrounding terrain can be explored on foot, offering views typical of the chalky hills around Peruc. Nearby you'll find other natural and historical points of interest around Stradonice, including lookout spots and hiking trails running through the scenic landscape above the Débeřský stream. Because the site protects a specific animal population, visitors should exercise particular caution — do not approach the secured entrance or attempt to open it, especially in winter, when the bats are most sensitive to disturbance.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is Štola Stradonice located? On the southern edge of the village of Stradonice, north of Peruc, in the Louny district of the Czech Republic.
Can you go inside the adit? No — the entrance is secured with a locked gate, and the site is closed to visitors in order to protect the hibernating bats.
Why is this site protected? Because it is the only known permanent winter hibernation site in the Louny district for several endangered bat species, including the barbastelle bat and the greater mouse-eared bat.
How long is the adit itself? The main gallery is about 150 metres long, with four shorter side galleries branching off it.
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