Arboretum Křtiny

Arboretum Křtiny is one of the oldest and largest tree and shrub collections in the Czech Republic, part of the Masarykův les School Forest Enterprise run by Mendel University in Brno. It sits between the villages of Křtiny and Jedovnice, roughly 20 km north of Brno, in the scenic Moravian Karst area.

How the arboretum came to be

The collection was founded between 1928 and 1930 by Professor August Bayer, who established the Institute of Dendrology at the Forestry Faculty of what was then the Agricultural University in Brno. For decades the site served purely scientific and educational purposes, with access granted only by special permission. That changed in 1995, when a foundation named after Professor Bayer was set up with the explicit goal of opening the arboretum to the general public.

What visitors will find

The arboretum spans 23 hectares and holds around a thousand woody plant taxa. One of its standout features is a collection of more than 200 species, hybrids, and cultivars of willows, considered one of the most significant of its kind in the region. Among the rarer specimens is the Japanese umbrella pine (Sciadopitys verticillata), a species native to distant Japan that is uncommon in Central European collections.

The grounds combine meadows along a stream, adjoining forested slopes, and a pond, giving a walk through the arboretum a varied, naturalistic feel. Adding to the atmosphere are more than 25 wooden sculptures and sculptural groups, created during symposiums by students of the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology at Mendel University.

The educational trail

A nature trail called "Domácí dřeviny" (Native Trees) runs through the arboretum, fitted with information boards for individual tree species. Roughly 800 taxa currently grow across the 23 hectares, of which 140 are labeled and incorporated into the educational trail — turning a simple walk into something closer to an open-air dendrology lesson.

When to visit

The arboretum is open to the public on weekends during the growing season, between open days held from late May through early October. Organized groups can arrange visits year-round by prior agreement with the School Forest Enterprise administration.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Arboretum Křtiny? It was founded between 1928 and 1930 by Professor August Bayer, founder of the Institute of Dendrology at the Forestry Faculty of the Agricultural University in Brno (today Mendel University).

How many tree species grow in the arboretum? The collection includes around a thousand woody plant taxa, among them more than 200 species, hybrids, and cultivars of willows.

Is the arboretum open to visitors all year round? It is publicly open on weekends during the growing season, from late May to early October. Organized groups can visit year-round by prior arrangement.

Where exactly is the arboretum located? It lies between the villages of Křtiny and Jedovnice, about 20 km north of Brno, within the grounds of Mendel University's Masarykův les School Forest Enterprise.