Březinské tisy is a striking national nature monument hidden in the Czech Central Uplands, where a steep rocky slope shelters one of the region's oldest yew tree populations alongside a remarkable Tertiary-era fossil site. It's a place where ancient geology and living forest meet in dramatic fashion.

The protected area covers a steep, rocky and scree-covered slope of Velký Chlum, dropping into the valley of the Ploučnice river at elevations between 158 and 372 metres. The dominant feature is the Bechlejovická wall, a basalt formation with distinctive slaggy texture and cavities formed by volcanic gas escape. Beneath it lie thick, moss-covered boulder screes, and in their lower layers you can find banded diatomite shale hiding fossilised Tertiary roses and soft-tissue remains of prehistoric frogs. In summer, the mixed forest of oak, ash and maple offers cool shade, autumn brings rich colour to the canopy, and winter strips the rock walls bare, revealing their dramatic volcanic structure.

How to get there

• Bechlejovice — approach along the road following the railway line, easy to moderate difficulty, approx. 30-45 minutes

Practical information

• The site is a protected paleontological locality — collecting fossils is prohibited
• The yew population numbers around 300 individuals, with half concentrated on the Bechlejovická wall
• The area is managed by the regional office of AOPK ČR in Ústí nad Labem

Fun fact: fossil remains of an ancient frog genus called Bechleja, named after the nearby village of Bechlejovice, were discovered here, making this one of the richest paleontological sites in the entire Czech Republic.