Tachovský vrch, Summit in Northern Czech Republic.
Tachner Berg (Tachovský vrch) is a neovolcanic hill in the Ralská pahorkatina highlands, 466 m high, about three kilometres south of Doksy. It forms a short ridge of sodalite phonolite (znělec) rising through Cretaceous sandstones and marls; summit rocks stand in the northeast, frost cliffs and boulder fields on the steep southeast slopes. A large quarry has removed much of the volcanic rock.
The hill was long the highest point of the Jestřebská kotlina basin, until a large quarry removed most of its volcanic rock, so that it nearly disappeared as a landscape feature. The quarry is one of about twenty operated in the Czech Republic by Eurovia Kamenolomy. Experts recommend keeping the site exposed and opening it to the public once mining ends.
The hill gave its name to the village of Tachov at its northwestern foot, and the phonolite was quarried on a large scale, so most of the volcanic body has been removed. The former highest point of the Jestřebská kotlina is now a 466 m summit instead of 498 m.
The nearest vehicle access is to the village of Tachov, from where a path overgrown with vegetation continues on foot around the summit. The route to the top is dangerous and entry into the quarry is prohibited.
Most of the hill's volcanic rock was quarried away, and the former highest point of the Jestřebská kotlina lost its summit shape; the quarry is one of about twenty operated in the Czech Republic by Eurovia Kamenolomy. Geologists recommend keeping the phonolite sill exposed under the Cretaceous sandstone once mining ends.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,166 contributors worldwide.