Globes, Meridians, and Fascinating Finds

The globe: an ornament of historical libraries

Geodesy and Cartography are closely related fields. The oldest globe was made by Martin Behaim between 1492 and 1493 at the request of Nuremberg’s city council. You can also admire historical globes in this location—some of the most exquisite examples are housed in ancient libraries situated in castles and monasteries. A remarkable collection of geographical and astronomical globes can be found in Prague, specifically in the Baroque Library of Klementinum, which first opened its doors in 1722. It primarily features works created by the Clementine Jesuits. This library includes a stunning giant original globe of the solar system and another globe made from hardened plaster, which was developed with the help of the Jesuits after their missions. During their travels, they mistakenly identified California as an island while leaving Australia completely off the map. For the Protestant regions they did not explore, they used the phrase “Hic sunt leones” (here are the lions) to indicate uncertainty.

Even more ancient and scarce are the globes on display at the Archbishop’s Castle in Kroměříž. The library there was established and opened to educated individuals by Bishop Charles of Lichtenstein of Castelkorn in 1694. The displayed Star and Earth globes, each measuring 107 cm in diameter, were crafted in 1695 by Vincenzo Mario Coronelli and made from wood, paper, leather, and metal. The other two globes might have been presented to the bishop by King Louis XIV of France, though some speculate he could have acquired them from a different source. Who can say for sure?

A very rare copper globe featuring the starry sky represented by heraldic symbols can be seen at the castle in Boskovice, with only three such globes known to exist worldwide. Additionally, a captivating French astrological globe is on display at Radim Castle, adorned with the zodiac signs that represent the constellations. The Strahov Library also boasts an impressive collection of globes dating back from the early 17th century to the 19th century.

Trips to the meridians, poles and geodetic rarities

When someone mentions Meridian, they might think of the Sumava mountain with its lookout tower. However, that name, Polední hora (Noon Mountain), originated in Prášily because it was said that at noon, the sun would be directly above its peak.

As you search for places marked with the shortest North and South Pole lines, you will discover many more meridians creatively defined along the Earth’s surface. The zero meridian—from which we derive our measurements of longitude—runs through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, while the Prague meridian, which is marked at 14°25’17” East longitude, serves a similar purpose for the Czech Republic and is located in the pavement of Old Town Square.

You can find meridians at various other locations too. For instance, the corner of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Jindřichův Hradec marks the fifteenth meridian, while a brass strip on Masaryk Square in Vyškov highlights the seventeenth meridian. Another monument marking the same meridian can be located in front of the railway station in Bučovice. Additionally, in the Panská zahrada park in Vsetín, the area where the eighteenth meridian passes through has been marked, while a sculpture in the park at Stříbro marks the thirteenth meridian. On the outskirts of Prachatice, at the base of St. Margaret’s Spa, you can find the intersection of the 14th meridian and the 49th parallel.

Do you know where to look for the Poles of Prague—the farthest points of the city? The Municipal Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Prague) has indicated these locations. You should also make a point to visit The farthest points of the Czech Republic: the northernmost at Lobendava, the southernmost at Vyšší Brod, the westernmost at Aš, and the easternmost at Bukovec.

Anomalies of the geological world in the Czech Republic

In West Bohemia, you will find a wealth of fascinating geological phenomena. One such site is the Soos National Nature Reserve, located near Františkovy Lázně. This area features a large peat bog and moorland with numerous mineral springs and pure carbon dioxide emerging in the so-called mofeta. The Cheb region experiences some of the most significant earthquakes in the country. Although overall seismic activity is low in the Czech Republic, there are rare exceptions. For instance, in December 1985, the Cheb area experienced a significant tremor that reached a magnitude of 4.6 (out of 10) on the Richter scale. The villages of Skalná, Nový Kostel, and Plesná were particularly impacted, with about 15 percent of their homes showing cracks in plaster and damaged chimneys. The tremors were felt throughout much of Bohemia. Earthquakes in this region tend to occur in clusters, with smaller tremors happening as the Earth’s crust gradually releases tension.

Have you ever heard of a magnetic hill? It’s a location where objects seem to be pulled by some hidden force. Water appears to flow uphill, cars roll effortlessly up seemingly steep inclines, and cyclists ascend without pedaling. One of these wonders is Kačerov Hill near Zdobnice in the Orlické Mountains. Another such site can be found on a nearby hill called Hřebeč close to Moravská Třebová.

Are you familiar with the term ventaroles? If not, you can witness a remarkable example in the winter at Boreč Hill in the Bohemian Central Highlands. At its peak, warm steam can rise even during severe frosts. The temperature difference between the rising air and the surrounding environment can be as much as 16 degrees, causing the snow around these warm air exits to melt. This warm microclimate is ideal for sharing the habitat with thermophilic plants that cannot survive freezing temperatures.

Lastly, we have a fascinating geological structure known as The Lusatian fault, which is a deep fault line stretching from Drazdan in Germany to Jičín. Additionally, we have the Paralur furrow, a rare geological formation visible on the rock ledge where the rectory building stands in Moravské Budějovice. This formation is one of the unique geological wonders in the Czech Republic and is unlike anything else in the area.

You know…? or the Wednesdays of the Czech Republic

• • A well-known geometric center of the Czech Republic is located in Číhošt’. The coordinate – the center of gravity within the state-defined borders was calculated by surveyor Ing. Ladislav Fofonka.

• • Another significant Centre of the Czech Republic is found further along, in Golčov Jeníkov. This location corresponds with the intersection of the diagonals of the smallest regular quadrilateral that can be drawn around the borders of the Czech Republic, marked by a boundary stone at the northern edge of the square.

• • The geometric Centre of Bohemia is situated on Devil Hill above Petrov near Davle.

• • In 1813, Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed the geographical center of Europe to be Mount Dylen.

• • A memorial by Jaroslav Poul, erected in 2010 on the square in Kourim, aims to highlight the fact that around 1.5 kilometers from the town is the astronomical center of Europe, where the 50th parallel intersects with the 15th meridian.