About this place
Babolský háj is a small but ecologically significant nature monument in the Babolky district of Letovice, in the Blansko district of the South Moravian Region. The protected core covers 5.05 hectares, and together with its buffer zone the total area reaches 17.12 hectares. The site is managed by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, regional office in Brno.
Why was this site protected?
The reserve exists to safeguard a wetland habitat that shelters a rare fern, the marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris). This species depends entirely on waterlogged alder woodland and reed-fringed ground, and it cannot tolerate drainage or major shifts in the local water table. Babolský háj holds the last known population of this fern anywhere in the Blansko district, which makes it a genuinely unique botanical refuge in the region rather than just another patch of protected woodland.
What grows inside the reserve?
The most valuable part of the site, from a botanical standpoint, is its wetter section, covered by alluvial-type alder forest. Black alder dominates the canopy, growing alongside ash, willow, and birch. This combination of species is characteristic of periodically flooded ground or land with a permanently high water table — exactly the conditions the marsh fern and other wetland plants need to survive, since they would quickly disappear from drier forest stands.
Where exactly is it located?
Babolský háj lies within the municipal territory of Letovice, in the part of town known as Babolky. Its approximate coordinates are 49.593°N, 16.575°E. The reserve is small in scale and blends into the surrounding farmland-and-forest landscape typical of the northern part of the Blansko district, on the border between the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands and the Svitavy Uplands.
Can you visit Babolský háj?
As a legally protected nature monument, the site comes with rules visitors are expected to respect: staying on any marked paths, avoiding the most sensitive wet sections, and not picking plants or disturbing vegetation. Given its modest size, this is not a heavily developed tourist attraction with visitor infrastructure — it functions more as a quiet stop for anyone interested in local flora or a walk through the countryside around Letovice.
Who is this place for?
Babolský háj will appeal most to visitors with an interest in botany and nature conservation, as well as anyone looking for a peaceful walk away from crowds. It makes a good addition to a visit to Letovice for travelers who want to see more than the historic town center — a firsthand look at a protected wetland offers a different, lesser-known side of the region.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Babolský háj? The protected core covers 5.05 hectares, and 17.12 hectares including the buffer zone.
What is specifically protected here? The last known site in the Blansko district for the marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris), a rare wetland fern species.
What trees grow in the reserve? Mainly black alder, along with ash, willow, and birch, forming a typical alluvial forest.
Where is Babolský háj located? In the Babolky part of Letovice, Blansko district, South Moravian Region, Czech Republic.
Who manages the site? The Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, through its regional office in Brno.
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