Uhliřský vrch

Uhlířský vrch is an extinct volcano in the Bruntál Uplands, rising to 672 meters above sea level roughly two kilometers southwest of the edge of Bruntál, in Czech Silesia. It ranks among the youngest volcanoes on present-day Czech territory, with its final eruption dating back approximately 1.7 million years, during the Quaternary period. Geologists describe today's summit as an erosional remnant of a scoria (slag) cone, and field research has identified at least two distinct phases of volcanic activity — one explosive, one effusive.

What can visitors see at the summit?

A Baroque pilgrimage church dedicated to Our Lady of Help stands at the top of the hill. The church serves as the main landmark of the surrounding area and remains a destination for local pilgrimages. A distinctive four-row avenue of linden trees, about one kilometer long, leads up to it. The trees were planted in 1766, the very same year the church was completed, creating a deliberately landscaped approach that connects the town below with the summit.

A Stations of the Cross carved from local wood

Along the path leading up to the church, the hillside features a Stations of the Cross. It was restored in 2001, when local artist František Nedomlel spent four years carving new wooden sculptures for each station. He used several different types of wood sourced from the Low Jeseníky region, so each station differs not only in form but also in material — a detail that makes this particular Stations of the Cross unusual compared with similar installations elsewhere in the region.

Traces of a former volcanic tuff quarry

South of the summit lies a disused quarry where volcanic tuff — rock formed from ash and debris ejected during eruptions — was once extracted. Because of its geological and scientific value, the site was protected as a nature reserve as early as 1966. It remains one of the more important places in the region for observing direct evidence of past volcanic activity, visible in the exposed rock layers of the old quarry walls.

What is the view like from the top?

Despite its modest elevation, Uhlířský vrch functions as an excellent orientation point in the area around Bruntál. From the summit, hikers get views over the surrounding hills of the Low Jeseníky range, and on clear days the peaks of the Hrubý Jeseník — the highest mountain range in the Czech part of the Sudetes — are visible in the distance. This combination of volcanic history, religious heritage, and panoramic views draws both casual hikers and visitors with a specific interest in geology or the local tradition of Marian pilgrimage.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Uhlířský vrch? The hill reaches 672 meters above sea level.

Is it really a volcano? Yes, it is an extinct Quaternary volcano, one of the youngest in the Czech Republic, with its last eruption occurring around 1.7 million years ago.

What stands at the summit? A Baroque pilgrimage church dedicated to Our Lady of Help, reached via a linden avenue planted in 1766.

Is there anything of interest for geology enthusiasts? Yes, a former volcanic tuff quarry south of the summit has been protected as a nature reserve since 1966.