Samuelova jeskyně, Artificial rock dwelling in Sloup v Čechách, Czech Republic

Samuelova jeskyně is an artificial rock dwelling carved in 1718 by the hermit Samuel Görner into a cliff near Sloup v Čechách. Two chambers are cut into the rock: a front room that served as a kitchen, with a smoke vent carved for the hearth, and a living room 6 by 2.5 metres with two windows, now barred. A flight of steps hewn into the rock leads to the entrance.

Local hermit Samuel Görner carved the rock dwelling in 1718, living there for 17 years while grinding glass lenses and making spectacles and telescopes. In 1735 he moved to nearby Sloup Castle, where a statue of him with a telescope stands on the summit. A German inscription recalling his time there was cut into a wall in 1897, and in 2002 Czech and German information panels were installed.

The name recalls the hermit Samuel Görner, who carved the dwelling in 1718 and lived there 17 years, grinding glass lenses and making spectacles and telescopes. A German inscription carved into a wall in 1897 commemorates his stay, and a lookout was made on the rock above.

Access runs from the parking area below Sloup Castle: navigation arrows lead through the village to the forest edge, then a fairly steep path with railings on the switchbacks climbs to the rocks. A row of steps cut into the rock leads up to the entrance.

The hermitage is cut into a rock formerly called Spitziger Stein, or Sharp Stone. Samuel Görner lived here 17 years, then moved in 1735 to Sloup Castle, where his statue holding a telescope stands on the summit.