Komínky, Natural monument in Kostelany, Czech Republic.
Komínky is a natural monument on the summit of the 518-metre hill of the same name in the Chřiby range, about 1 km east of the Bunč recreation centre near Kostelany. Its rock forms are frost-riven crags of Paleocene coarse-grained sandstone and conglomerate of the Rača unit of the Magura flysch, running in a belt roughly 40 metres long that rises 50 metres above the surrounding ground. Weathering has carved small hollows and honeycomb pits into the rock.
The site gained official protection status in 1967 when Czech authorities recognized its geological importance. The rock formations themselves developed over millions of years through natural processes that continue to shape the landscape today.
The name Komínky means "little chimneys", after the rock pillars on the summit. Tradition holds that signal fires were lit on this peak to warn of enemy invasions, and the summit was once considered the centre of Moravia. A memorial plaque below the top recalls scout leader Emanuel Rupert, who died here in 1998.
The site can be reached by hiking trails that wind through the protected landscape and offer views of the formations. Visitors should stay on marked paths and respect cordoned areas to protect the geological features from damage.
The summit once stood bare of trees and was long considered the geographic centre of Moravia. In 1903 the estate administration had steps cut into the highest rock, a viewing platform levelled and an iron railing fitted for a visit by Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este.
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