Zhůřský lom

Zhůřský lom is a small but ecologically notable nature reserve in the Šumava region of the Czech Republic, in the Klatovy district, roughly ten kilometres southeast of the small town of Čachrov. The reserve sits about a kilometre east of the site once occupied by the village of Zhůří, which was abandoned and demolished after the population was displaced in the mid-20th century. The protected area covers the grounds of a former stone quarry along with adjoining peat bogs and rocky outcrops, and it falls under the administration of the Šumava National Park and Protected Landscape Area.

What defines this place?

Two forces have shaped the character of Zhůřský lom: decades of quarrying and the natural regeneration that followed once extraction stopped. Inside the old quarry pit, exposed rock faces and piles of stone debris created nutrient-poor, harsh microhabitats where specialised plants took hold. Right next to this dry, rocky terrain lie boggy, waterlogged patches — a peatland habitat that is genuinely uncommon in this part of Šumava and considered valuable for nature conservation. The juxtaposition of these two very different environments, dry rock and wet peat, side by side within a small area, is what makes the site worth protecting.

Why was it protected?

The formal purpose behind the reserve's designation is to safeguard the plant communities that have developed naturally on the peatland as well as on the rock and rubble left behind by quarrying. In other words, conservation authorities recognised that an abandoned industrial site, rather than being an eyesore to be reclaimed or redeveloped, had become a place of spontaneous ecological recovery worth preserving in its own right. This approach — valuing secondary succession on post-industrial land — is increasingly common across Šumava and the wider Czech conservation landscape, where old quarries and mines are sometimes left to nature rather than restored to their pre-industrial appearance.

Getting there

Zhůřský lom lies in one of the more remote corners of Šumava, an area where post-war resettlement wiped out numerous villages, including the neighbouring Zhůří. As a result, the surrounding countryside today feels wild and sparsely populated — appealing to visitors looking for solitude and unspoiled nature, but requiring some preparation, since tourist infrastructure in the immediate vicinity is minimal. Čachrov is typically the starting point for exploring this stretch of Šumava and the trails that lead toward the reserve.

What to know before visiting

As with other protected nature reserves, visitors are expected to stick to marked paths, avoid picking plants, and refrain from disturbing wildlife. The former quarry floor can be uneven, combining exposed rock with damp hollows, so sturdy footwear is advisable. It is worth keeping in mind that the appeal of this site lies precisely in its raw, undeveloped state — there is no visitor infrastructure to speak of, only a patch of wilderness that has reclaimed a piece of industrial land after decades of abandonment.

Frequently asked questions

Is Zhůřský lom an active quarry? No, quarrying here ended long ago, and the site has since undergone natural ecological succession, now protected as a nature reserve.

How large is the reserve? It covers a relatively small area — the former quarry pit together with the adjoining peatland — making it a localised, pinpoint protected site rather than an extensive park.

What is the main highlight for visitors? The contrast between the rocky, quarried terrain and the surrounding peat bog, along with the distinct plant life each habitat supports.

Are there other points of interest nearby? The surrounding area is part of the depopulated post-war landscape of Šumava, including the nearby former village of Zhůří — of particular interest to anyone drawn to the region's history and its present-day wild, sparsely inhabited character.