Raná U Loun – Basalt Hill, Steppe Landscape and Trails

Raná U Loun is a place for a variety of discoveries: nature, history and aviation are all found close together here. The landscape ranges from the three-peaked Raná to protected remnants of steppe; there is also a footpath to the summit, an educational trail at the foot of the hill and a historical chapter in gliding. This creates a destination where nature, culture and concrete decisions about excursions come together. Depending on your focus, your visit can centre on a summit trail, an educational trail at the foot of the hill, a protected church complex or the history of aviation.

Basalt Hill and Protected Steppe Landscape

The village of Raná was established at the north-western foot of the basalt hill of the same name. The massif has three summits and reaches 457 m. The Raná National Nature Reserve covers 10.9 ha and was designated in 1951. It preserves rare remnants of natural communities of the Central European continental steppes on softer Cretaceous sediments and partly on an exposed, originally subterranean basaltic igneous body. Thus, the forms of a basalt massif and the open structure of a continental steppe landscape come together in a small area. The three summits, the elevation and the open character of the steppe remnants give the place a clearly recognisable topographical character.

Trails to the Summit and Foot of Raná

The approximately 3.5 km long, easy footpath “Procházka syslím rájem na vrchu Raná” leads directly to the summit of Raná steppe hill near Louny in the České středohoří Protected Landscape Area. The trail runs over rocky paths that are unsuitable for bicycles and pushchairs. It can be reached by bus; in Raná, there is a paid car park by the Skleník restaurant. Since 2021, the “Úpatím Rané” educational trail has also run at the foot of Raná and is suitable for families with children. This allows you to choose between an easy summit trail and an educational trail at the foot of the hill. The choice between the two trails therefore depends not only on the destination, but also on the surface and how close you want to be to the summit.

All Saints’ Church and Local History

The All Saints’ Church is the oldest building in Raná. It may originally have been Romanesque and still displays Gothic and Baroque stylistic features; it is mentioned in writing as early as 1384. The All Saints’ Church complex is protected as a cultural monument. It includes an exterior staircase and a gate in the enclosing wall. The church thus complements the natural experiences with a specific historical site within Raná. The exterior staircase and gate are separate components of the protected complex.

The History of Flight on Raná

The history of gliding on Raná, the southernmost mountain of the Bohemian Central Uplands, began on the morning of 2 September 1932 with the first launch. The summit of Raná is used for unpowered flight. Flight courses and tandem flights are offered on Raná.

Further Destinations for Orientation

Further destinations for your research include Blažim, Lenešice, Toužetín, Lipno, Mecholupy U Zatce, Brody, Pnětluky and Žiželice.

For the higher-level travel overview: Louny District.