Andělka a Čertovka

Andělka a Čertovka is a small but striking nature reserve on the northern edge of Šlapanice, in the Brno-venkov district of the South Moravian Region, rising above the right bank of the Říčka river. The protected area covers just under 3.4 hectares of steep slope between roughly 219 and 266 metres above sea level, and it takes its name from two distinctive rock formations: the taller Andělka, reaching about 40 metres, and the shorter, twelve-metre Čertovka. Both are made of Culm conglomerate, a hard sedimentary rock that erosion has carved over millennia into the steep, exposed faces visible in the valley today.

Why is this site protected?

The reserve was first placed under protection in 1984, and its legal status was renewed by a South Moravian Regional regulation that took effect in March 2019. The reason for protection is the region's unusual combination of thermophilous (heat-loving) plant communities growing directly on the rocks and rare flora species that thrive here thanks to the slopes' southern exposure and the rock's ability to retain warmth.

What can visitors see on site?

The slopes are covered by a thinned oak-hornbeam forest dominated by common hornbeam and sessile oak. It is precisely in the sun-dappled clearings of this forest, and on the bare rock faces, that plants typical of dry, warm habitats have taken hold. Among the protected species recorded in the reserve are wall germander and the very rare spring primrose, whose presence points to the high ecological value packed into this small stretch of landscape.

What does the landscape around Andělka and Čertovka look like?

The rock formations rise directly above the Říčka valley, forming a striking landmark visible from a distance across the gently rolling countryside of the Šlapanice area. The steep rock faces stand in clear contrast to the surrounding fields and the built-up edge of the town, with the taller Andělka acting as the focal point around which most of the protected species are concentrated.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the reserve located? On the northern edge of Šlapanice, above the right bank of the Říčka river, in the Brno-venkov district of the South Moravian Region.

Where does the name Andělka and Čertovka come from? From the two rock formations that form the core of the reserve: the roughly 40-metre-high Andělka and the 12-metre-high Čertovka, both built of Culm conglomerate.

How large is the protected area? The reserve covers just under 3.4 hectares, spanning elevations from 219 to 266 metres above sea level.

What is the main reason this site is protected? The heat-loving plant communities growing on the exposed rock and the presence of rare, protected plant species, including the spring primrose.

Since when has the area been formally protected? Protection was first established in 1984, and the current legal status is governed by a South Moravian Regional regulation in effect since March 2019.