On the northern edge of the village of Tuchořice lies a remarkable geological site - a former limestone quarry that reveals one of the richest paleontological deposits in the Czech Republic. Here, layers of freshwater limestone from the Miocene epoch tell the story of a subtropical lake that once covered this land.
The site is dominated by a disused quarry wall stretching 300 metres long and reaching up to 25 metres in height. The atmosphere is quiet and rural, framed by the gentle countryside of the Louny region. Sheep graze on the grassy slopes in summer, giving the place a pastoral feel that contrasts with the raw, exposed rock face. It's not a dramatic viewpoint hike, but a fascinating stop for anyone curious about deep time and ancient ecosystems.
How to get thereThis is the only extensive exposed profile of Miocene freshwater limestone in the Czech Republic, containing nearly 90 species of now-extinct land snails along with fossilised wood, palm fronds and nuts from a long-vanished subtropical world.