Velká Amerika (Big America) is a beautiful limestone quarry located by Mořina village, about eight kilometers outside of Prague. Referred to as Czech Republic’s Grand Canyon, Velká Amerika is the largest of three quarries in the area: Malá Amerika (Small America) and Mexiko (Mexico) are both connected to Velká Amerika via a labyrinth of caves.
What was once a working ground for political prisoners is now mostly abandoned: the gate to the 800-meter-long, 200-meter-wide, and 100-meter-deep quarry remains locked, and only a select few have the key. Divers frequently seek entry into the 18-meter-deep lake with crystal clear water, while filmmakers love using the cliffs as a picturesque backdrop.
Lemonade Joe and a Czech fairytale rendition of the Little Mermaid were both filmed at Velká Amerika. The caves are also the most important wintering grounds for bats in the Czech Republic. The caves are interconnected and are a lot larger than expected: there are six stories of horizontal passages (adits).
These were once used to mine limestone – you can still find remaining train tracks. Photos of the underground area and more information (in Czech) can be found on their website. The mining was stopped in 1963, and the quarry has since functioned as a water reservoir for the village.
Once the mining stopped various groups of people became interested in the quarry. At first ramblers came to explore and sleep in the romantic caves. After water got into the quarry and a clear lake formed, the spot became popular amongst nudists. During Socialist times the nudists were chased off the property by the police.
In the 80s it was tourists who crowded the natural reserve. At the time there were no tourist paths, and people were discouraged from visiting the protected area. It wasn’t until after the tourist boom that came with the Velvet Revolution that hiking paths were established and safety fences were set up.
Although it is strictly forbidden to climb down into the quarry, it is a popular swimming spot and gets crowded in the summer. People bring their children, dogs, and kegs of beer despite the dangerous steep path. No warnings or previous casualties have managed to stop adventurers from cliff jumping, cave exploring, and sometimes even overnight camping.
Legends about the dangers of the quarry also exist – the most famous story involves a German soldier in an SS uniform named Hans Hagen. People claim to see him appear suddenly out of the tunnels and disappear mysteriously. Several deaths and disappearances are rumored to be his doing.
The quarry is beautiful enough to enjoy from above without taking any risks. There is a viewing point by the parking lot – about a 15-minute walk from the Mořina bus stop. A popular day trip starts with a bus ride (bus 311) from Zličín, which takes about an hour and drives through scenic fields and small villages. From there you can follow a trail past the other quarries and through the forest all the way to Karlštejn, which takes about an hour at a slower pace.
The hike from Velká Amerika to Karlštejn is mostly downhill, which is why it is more popular than going the other way. During the summertime the path through the forest is littered with small blue flowers and the trees offer much needed shade on hotter days. Make sure to stock up on water at the very beginning of the trip – Mořina is a small village and everything tends to be closed on weekends.
One of the landmarks along the path is Dub Sedmi bratří (Oak of the Seven Brothers). This oak tree is only 16 meters tall but it is over 350 years old and has a 460 cm–wide trunk. Just like the quarry, the tree has a lot of legends – it gets its name from a story about seven brothers who made a living by stealing. They would come to the old tree with their stolen goods and split the loot fairly amongst each other.
Right before you get to Karlštejn you will pass a cute restaurant, Pod Dračí skálou (Under the Dragon Cliff). This is a great place to grab a beer, lunch, and refuel before taking on the castle. If you have a sweet tooth, check out their banana split consisting of three scoops of ice cream, fresh fruit, and whipped cream. It’s always a debate between the banana split and Horká láska (Hot love): three scoops of vanilla ice cream with hot raspberries and whipped cream.
Travel Information:
Velka America – more information here.
Karlštejn Castle – more information here.
Travel by car: About a 45-minute drive from the city center of Prague, there are three best ways to get to the quarry. Entering Lom Velká Amerika, Mořina, 267 17 Mořina into your GPS or smartphone will suggest taking the road K Barrandovu through Chýnice towards Mořina. There is a medium-sized parking lot. The other options are to take Radlická road or the D5/E55 highway.
Travel by bus: Take the 311 bus from the large bus terminal at Zličín to Mořina bus stop (30 stops), the bus ride takes about 51 minutes and it can get quite packed. Come early and wait in line to get a seat and make sure to look up times because the bus generally leaves every 60–90 minutes. The cost for the bus ticket is around 30 CZK and is bought directly on the bus.
Travel by train: Take the train from Hlavni Nadrazi – Praha to Karlštejn, then you can hike to the quarry from there. From the main train station it takes 40 minutes. It costs 59 CZK but is much cheaper for groups of five or more. Trains go at least every hour and sometimes more frequent, check the schedule here.
