Šachtštejn (372 m a.s.l.) is a modest, cone-shaped hill near Hamr na Jezeře that hides one of North Bohemia's most fascinating mining stories. Often mentioned merely as a secondary summit of the nearby Hamerský Špičák, it deserves a visit of its own for anyone curious about the intersection of geology and history.

The hill rises gently above the surrounding countryside, but its summit is cut through by the deepest iron ore excavation found anywhere in the Ralsko Geopark - a trench roughly 70 metres long and up to 17 metres deep, dating back to 17th and 18th century mining activity. For decades this whole area formed part of the Ralsko military training zone, which kept it largely untouched and adds a quiet, slightly mysterious atmosphere to a walk here today. The surrounding forested slopes belong to the Ralská pahorkatina uplands and feel calm and remote in every season.

How to reach the summit

• Via a short detour from the yellow-marked trail connecting the red trail from Stráž pod Ralskem with the green trail - moderate difficulty

Practical information

• The old mine working itself is currently closed to visitors
• Since September 2013 it has been managed by the Mining History Association of Ralsko, which plans to restore it and eventually open it to the public
• The hill lies within the Děvín a Ostrý protected nature area

The name Šachtštejn comes from the German words der Schacht (shaft, mine) and der Stein (stone, rock) - a direct nod to its mining past. A rare polzenite volcanic dyke, rock originating from deep within the Earth's mantle some 60 to 80 million years ago, runs straight through the summit.