Čertův stůl, Rock formation and dolmen in Prostřední Bečva, Czech Republic
Čertův stůl is a dolmen-shaped rock formation near the summit of Čertův mlýn (1207 m) in the Kněhyně–Čertův mlýn National Nature Reserve, Prostřední Bečva. A stone slab weighing about 6,500 kg rests on two stone pedestals, resembling a table. It lies beside a longitudinal geological depression called Čertův žlab.
The origin of the formation is unclear: it may be a natural product of erosion or a megalithic dolmen. Academician Jan Folprecht, who studied the site, considered it a dolmen, noting that the summit of Radhošť, where the sun sets at the equinoxes, lies on its axis. The site and its surroundings are traditionally linked with pagan worship.
The name translates to Devil's Table, rooted in local stories about a devil attempting to build a mill during the night. These tales continue to shape how people experience and remember this place.
The formation lies near the summit of Čertův mlýn (1207 m) in the Kněhyně - Čertův mlýn National Nature Reserve, above Prostřední Bečva in the Vsetín district. For nature protection the site is not open to the public, so it cannot be visited; the reserve's marked trails are the only way through the area.
The site is closed to the public for nature protection, so the equinox alignment of the dolmen's axis with the summit of Radhošť, where the sun sets, can only be appreciated from outside the reserve. The 6,500 kg slab rests on two stone supports.
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