Kamenná hůra is a small but fascinating nature reserve tucked between the villages of Merboltice, Malý Šachov and Valkeřice, right in the heart of the České středohoří (Central Bohemian Uplands). This is a place where basalt boulder fields hide a real natural curiosity - permanent ice pits that stay cold even in summer.

The reserve's highest point is the hill Kamenec (519 m above sea level), and the whole area impresses with its wild, rocky landscape covered in scree forests. The unique microclimate among the boulders allows rare and endangered moss species to thrive here, plants you won't easily find elsewhere. In spring the forest awakens with fresh greenery, in summer the stones offer a welcome coolness, autumn brings vivid colors, and in winter frost covers the rocky rubble in an almost fairy-tale atmosphere.

How to get there

• Merboltice - local trail, approx. 1-1.5 hours, easy to moderate difficulty
• Valkeřice - alternative approach from the east

Practical information

• The area is protected and managed by AOPK ČR - Administration of the České středohoří PLA
• Access only along marked trails, due to protection of moss habitats and scree slopes

Interesting fact: the ice pits within the basalt scree maintain low temperatures year-round, a phenomenon rarely found in this part of Europe.