Arboretum Sofronka

Arboretum Sofronka is one of the world's largest open-air collections of pine trees, situated on the outskirts of Pilsen in the Bolevec district. Spread across roughly 26 hectares, the site brings together descendants of trees gathered from nearly every corner of the globe, from the cold forests of Scandinavia to the mountain slopes of North America.

How did an arboretum end up in Bolevec?

The story begins in 1956, when forester Karel Kaňák established a research station of the Forestry and Game Management Research Institute at this spot. The initiative grew out of an ambitious task set by the Czechoslovak Academy of Agricultural Sciences: "Pine Breeding." Rather than scattering experiments across multiple sites, researchers decided to concentrate a collection of pine species from around the world in one location — Sofronka. After the founder's death, his son Jan Kaňák took over, leading the arboretum from 1989 until 2021 and continuing decades of his father's research. A turning point came in 2010, when the city of Pilsen took over management of the site from the research institute, opening the arboretum more fully to residents and visitors.

How many pine species grow at Sofronka?

Over decades of scientific work, around 70 pine species from different continents have been planted and tested here. Some survived as single specimens, while others multiplied into hundreds or even thousands of trees. What makes the collection truly remarkable is not just the number of species, but the sheer variety of geographic provenances within individual species. This has allowed researchers to observe, over many years, how the same pine species respond to different climate and soil conditions depending on where their seed material originated. That diversity has made the collection one of the largest of its kind on the Eurasian continent.

What can you see while walking through the arboretum?

The expansive grounds invite a relaxed walk along paths lined with trees of remarkably different shapes — from low, shrub-like forms to tall, slender specimens reminiscent of mountain forests. Because the arboretum has long served both a scientific and an educational role, it's worth paying attention to the labeling of individual species, which helps visitors tell apart pines that might otherwise look nearly identical. The site is popular among Pilsen residents looking for nature close to the city, and its size means that even during busier seasons it's easy to find a quiet corner.

Who is this place for?

Arboretum Sofronka appeals both to nature and dendrology enthusiasts and to families looking for a peaceful outing away from the city center. Visitors interested in the history of forestry science will appreciate the post-war research context behind the collection's creation. For those less familiar with the subject, the sheer scale of the gathered species and their geographic origins can be a surprising discovery — few places in Europe let you see such a wide cross-section of the world's pines in a single location.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Arboretum Sofronka and when? It was founded by forester Karel Kaňák in 1956 as a research station dedicated to pine breeding.

How large is the arboretum? It currently covers approximately 26 hectares.

How many pine species grow in the arboretum? Over the years, about 70 pine species from various regions of the world have been planted here.

Who manages the arboretum today? Since 2010 the site has been managed by the city of Pilsen, having previously been run by a forestry research institute.