Střešovické skály

Střešovické skály is a small but geologically significant nature monument in Prague 6, sitting on the boundary between the cadastral areas of Střešovice and Břevnov. The rocks lie just below the Central Military Hospital along Na Petřinách street, in a densely built-up part of the city — making this an unusual case of a natural rock outcrop surviving almost within the heart of an urban area.

What exactly are Střešovické skály?

The site is a remnant of a once much larger rock massif that was gradually reduced over the decades by quarrying and construction work carried out in the surrounding area. What remains today covers only 1.45 hectares, yet the natural value of this fragment was considered significant enough for the area to be legally protected as a nature monument back in 1968.

What do the rocks look like and how were they formed?

At the core of the protected feature are sandstone rocks containing natural caves and fissures. These sandstones originated from marine sediments of the Cenomanian age, the earliest stage of the Cretaceous period. The lower layers consist of coarse-grained kaolinitic sandstones belonging to the so-called Peruc formation, overlain by Korycany-type sandstones cemented with kaolinitic binder and interspersed with clay-like layers. This layered geological structure makes Střešovické skály an important geological profile, allowing observation of the transition between different types of Cretaceous sediments in a natural exposure.

The presence of natural caves and fissures within the rocks adds further significance — this kind of erosional feature rarely survives in areas heavily reshaped by human activity, yet here it has persisted despite centuries of stone extraction nearby.

Why is this site protected?

The protection of Střešovické skály rests primarily on its geological and landscape value. As a surviving fragment of a former rock massif, the site bears witness to sedimentation processes that took place millions of years ago, while at the same time documenting how strongly human activity — mining and construction — can reshape a natural landscape. The preserved rock fragment allows the geological structure of this part of Prague to be studied today without excavation or drilling.

Where exactly is it located?

Střešovické skály lies in the eastern part of Prague 6, next to Na Petřinách street, just below the grounds of the Central Military Hospital. The site's approximate coordinates are 50.092°N, 14.3689°E. Its location in a densely populated district makes it an easily accessible point of interest for Prague residents interested in geology and local nature.

Frequently asked questions

Is Střešovické skály a large protected area? No — it is a very small protected area covering only 1.45 hectares, making it one of the smaller nature monuments in Prague.

Since when has the area been protected? The site was formally protected as a nature monument in 1968.

What exactly is protected here? The protection covers the sandstone rocks with their natural caves and fissures, as well as the exposed geological profile documenting marine sediments from the Cenomanian period.

Are the rocks natural, or were they shaped by human activity? The rocks themselves and their geological structure are entirely natural, but the massif's current, reduced extent is the result of long-term quarrying and construction work carried out in this part of Prague.

Which district of Prague are Střešovické skály in? They are located in Prague 6, on the boundary between the cadastral areas of Střešovice and Břevnov, along Na Petřinách street.