A stay in Kounov can revolve around an unusual theme: the Kounov Stone Rows and their history. The stone rows shape the view of the landscape; an exhibition displays documents about their study. There are also educational trails, the Church of St. Vitus and the Chapel of St. Adalbert with its pilgrimage tradition.

The Kounov Stone Rows on Rovina

The Kounov Stone Rows lie on the wooded Rovina plateau at an elevation of 526 metres, on the border between the districts of Louny and Rakovník. Fourteen regular rows of erratic boulders make up the site; individual stones weigh up to several tonnes. The rows’ arrangement, weight and position offer different clues to what makes this place special. The stone rows were discovered in 1934 by local teacher Antonín Patejdl. The story of their discovery is therefore also part of a visit: it connects the landscape with a specific historical point of reference in Kounov.

Documents on the History of the Stone Rows

The exhibition about the Kounov Stone Rows displays rare documents. These include the first published article about the stone rows, from 1934; the oldest known photograph of the rows, from 1936; and drawings from their archaeological investigation in the 1970s. These examples form a timeline: from the early publication to a photographic record and then to later research. This makes it possible to explore the subject not only through the rows themselves, but also through the documented study of them.

Educational Trails and Route Planning

The Kounov Stone Rows Educational Trail has existed since 1987, has eleven stops and is 4.3 kilometres long. The stops divide up the trail; its total length provides a practical point of reference for planning. Check the trail infrastructure before your trip. The Špičák Educational Trail route starts at the exhibition about the stone rows in Kounov. For this route, confirm current trail conditions locally. Its starting point is therefore a separate, clear point of reference from the distance and number of stops given for the named educational trail.

The Chapel of St. Adalbert can also be included in your route planning: it lies about 1.5 kilometres north of Kounov on a marked hiking trail from Kounov to the Kounov Stone Rows. There is a covered rest area with benches and tables by the chapel. Take the approximate distance into account and check the route and rest area before your trip.

Church, Natural History and Pilgrimage

At the Church of St. Vitus in Kounov, a Gothic chancel dating from around 1400 adjoins a nave believed to be Romanesque. The cautious classification of the nave and the approximate dating of the chancel remain important: the two parts of the building are assigned to different periods. Another part of local history is linked to Palaeozoic research. Trissolepis kounoviensis is considered the best-known representative of Kounov’s Palaeozoic fauna; Antonín Frič discovered the species in the 1870s.

The Chapel of St. Adalbert near Kounov is an important pilgrimage site at the meeting point of the Rakovnicko, Žatecko and Lounsko regions. The St. Adalbert Pilgrimage takes place every year on the first Sunday after 23 April, the feast day of Saint Adalbert. If you would like to plan your trip around the pilgrimage, confirm the dates and arrangements for the relevant year in advance. This makes it possible to take the recurring tradition and Kounov’s various cultural and natural history themes into account separately when planning.

Discover more destinations: Kolešovice, Hřebečníky, Svojetín, Panoší Újezd, Svinařov, Velká Chmelištná, Kolešov, Senec.

For the broader travel overview: Rakovník District.