Ryžovna is a small but fascinating nature reserve in the Krušné hory (Ore Mountains), perched on a plateau near the summit of Nad Ryžovnou (1044 m). It protects a remarkable geological phenomenon - basalt columns nicknamed 'stone organs' - alongside rare upland moor ecosystems.

The landscape combines mountain meadows, sparse forest and patches of heathland typical of the boggy uplands of the Ore Mountains. Summers are short and cool, with average July temperatures around 12-14°C, while winters bring heavy snowfall as part of the region's roughly 1000 mm of annual precipitation. Near one of the old quarries grows a curious grove of stunted, twisted beech trees, possibly shaped by extreme soil and climate conditions at this altitude. Crumbling remains of a former Cold War-era military radar site add a haunting historical layer to the scenery.

How to get there

• From Hřebečná — follow the Hřebečná–Ryžovna educational trail focused on mining history, easy walk, ending at the larger basalt quarry
• Paved road from Ryžovna to Hřebečná — a turn-off leads to the former military radar station built in 1961

Practical information

• Home to protected plant species including round-leaved sundew, common butterwort and several orchid species
• Educational trail equipped with information panels
• Visitor numbers are moderate and do not harm the environment

Remarkably, two quarries barely 200 meters apart show completely different rock-column structures - one columnar, the other slab-like - making Ryžovna a standout site within the Egeria Geopark.