Suchomasty: Klonk, Nature and Castle History

Suchomasty between Earth History and Local History

Suchomasty is a destination for travelers who want to combine nature, Earth history and historic buildings. The Klonk National Nature Monument, the castle’s history, a Baroque chapel, the Suchomasty Reservoir and a protected former school complex give the place several clearly distinct facets. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between geological discovery, cultural history and walks by the water.

Klonk: a special geological reference point

The Klonk National Nature Monument lies 200–800 meters north of Suchomasty. It is home to the world’s first internationally established stratotype for the boundary between the Silurian and Devonian periods. A stratotype is a designated reference point for a geological boundary. The Klonk National Nature Monument is therefore a site of global importance in stratigraphic geology. The geological boundary represented at Klonk is dated to an Earth history approximately 410–418 million years old. As another visible feature, the Klonk monument was created by the academic sculptor Jiří Novotný and weighs six tons. This time span broadens the geological perspective, while the six-ton monument provides a specific point of reference at Klonk.

Protected Landscape Area and Water Landscape

Suchomasty lies partly within the Český kras Protected Landscape Area. In the vicinity of Suchomasty, the Suchomasty Reservoir is a popular destination for excursions; a marked hiking trail runs along its right bank. In addition to the geological attraction, this gives you a clearly defined landscape feature to consider when planning your excursion.

Castle, Chapel and Historic Traces

Suchomasty Castle was originally built in the Renaissance style and dates from the 16th century. In the 18th century, it was remodelled in the Baroque style. The castle therefore brings together two clearly distinct building phases: its Renaissance origins and its Baroque transformation. At the same time, it is important to note that Suchomasty Castle is not open to the public. The Klonk educational trail leads to sights such as Suchomasty Castle. The Baroque Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows dates from the early 19th century and is a cultural monument.

Short Route and Arrival

The walk from the Klonk monument to Mlýnský rybník is approximately half a kilometer long. The short route can be planned as a separate section between natural and local history and does not require an extended hike. Travel by public transport from Prague to Suchomasty takes approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes, including a transfer. These two details provide you with a concrete guide for combining your journey, exploring the town and taking a short walk.

Other Protected Features

The protected former school complex in Suchomasty includes the school building, a garden and an area enclosed by a stone wall. The Suchomasty-zámeček site is also home to a regionally significant summer colony of lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros). Both references broaden the perspective beyond the familiar architectural and landscape topics without changing the historical status of the school complex or the special importance of the bat colony.

Other Destinations for Orientation

For further orientation at the same level, you can also find Borek, as well as Vižina, Osek, Hudlice, Chrustenice, Stašov, Železná and Jivina.

For the higher-level travel overview: Beroun District.