DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-087-0-0061

CASTLE RUINS AS SITES WHERE GEODIVERSITY AND CULTURE MEET: A CASE STUDY OF JANŠTEJN (CZECHIA)

Karel Kirchner¹, František Kuda¹, Lucie Kubalíková^1,2

² Institute of Geonics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Drobného 28, 602 00 Brno, Czechia

¹ Department of Geology and Soil Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 613 00 Brno, Czechia

Geocultural sites are perceived as sites where links between geodiversity and culture are particularly strong and interconnected. They may be represented by quarries, anthropogenic landforms, and historical buildings or constructions. Thanks to their values, geocultural sites possess an important potential for geotourism and geoeducation, but at the same time, they may become endangered by threats such as natural degradation, vegetation overgrowth, overtourism, inappropriate use, or indifference to their values. This contribution introduces a case study of Janštejn castle ruins situated in Jihlavské vrchy Highland (Czechia). The area represents a typical granitic landscape with the occurrence of rock walls, tors, frost cliffs and blocky accumulations. The ruins of Janštejn castle are situated on the rocky elevation formed by the Moldanubian granite. The construction of the castle dates back to the 14th Century, and it significantly affected the surroundings due to the extraction of local material and anthropogenic transformation of the relief. The site has been described in terms of geomorphological processes and landforms, mapped by the use of 3D laser scanning, and assessed by geomorphosite concept. Based on the SWOT analysis, threats and opportunities were identified, and possible management measures, proposals for further sustainable use, and research directions were designed. 

Klíčová slova: geocultural site, geomorphosite, geomorphological mapping, cultural heritage, granitic landscape

stránky: 61-65, Publikováno: 2026, online: 2026