Šišma: Quarry, Nature and History

Šišma offers unusual points of connection for a journey through geology, history and landscape. The disused Šišma quarry makes the area particularly interesting through the rock types and textures of the Culm facies. In addition, there is a historical link involving Jan Diva and Cycle Route 6062, which passes through Šišma. Depending on your interests, you can therefore focus on natural history, culture or active pursuits.

Geology at the disused Šišma quarry

The disused Šišma quarry is registered by the Czech Geological Survey as a significant geological locality. It exposes rock types and textures of the Culm facies. For visitors who want to experience the landscape not only as a backdrop but also in its geological character, the quarry thus becomes a specific destination. The visible rock structures give your stay a clear thematic focus.

The quarry is freely accessible, and by car it is possible to drive to within 250 metres of it. If your excursion combines several interests, you can plan the visit as a separate natural-history activity. The 250-metre distance between the access road and the destination can be incorporated into your daily schedule when members of the group have different ideas about how to spend the day. The quarry complements the protected area, the historical link and the cycle route with a geological focus.

Landscape diversity in the Lesy u Bezuchova protected area

The Lesy u Bezuchova protected area protects extensively mown meadows from the lowlands to the foothills (Arrhenatherion, Brachypodio-Centaureion nemoralis), oak-hornbeam forests of the Galio-Carpinetum association, as well as mixed ash-alder floodplain forests (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae). The various habitats create a clearly structured landscape. Anyone interested in nature observation and protected habitats will find several documented landscape types here, differing in both their names and their characteristics.

A historical link from Šišma

The history of the area also offers a distinctive point of reference: in 1415, Jan Diva from Šišma held the fortress and sealed a protest against the burning of Jan Hus. The specific year and the connection to a person from Šišma give this historical orientation a clear point of reference. For your travel planning, this episode complements the natural-history themes with a historical aspect.

Šišma on Cycle Route 6062

Cycle Route 6062 passes through Šišma along the 8-kilometre Bezuchov–Šišma–Pavlovice route. Šišma lies between Bezuchov and Pavlovice on this connection and is therefore part of a clearly defined route. If you would like to organise your trip around cycling, you can use the 8 kilometres as a fixed framework for planning your day. The distance can be incorporated into an excursion combining cycling with a stay in Šišma and its natural-history or historical attractions. You can set your own pace and breaks when planning the day; the route provides the geographical limits. In this way, the cycle route complements the geological and landscape attractions with an active way to reach and explore the area.

More places to consider for your trip

For further orientation, you can also explore Oplocany, Chrbov, Klokoci, Oprostovice, Osek Nad Bečvou, Čechy U Přerova, Měrovice Nad Hanou and Polkovice.

For the overview of the wider area: Okres Přerov.