Bartošovický luh

Bartošovický luh is a nature reserve in the municipality of Bartošovice, in the Nový Jičín district, forming part of the Poodří Protected Landscape Area. It stretches along the right bank of the Odra River, just west of the village, and preserves one of the most valuable river valley landscapes in northern Moravia.

What does the reserve protect?

At the heart of the area lies a naturally meandering stretch of the Odra River, which has retained its winding, unregulated course. Along the riverbanks grow riparian and mesophilous floodplain forests that are periodically flooded, together with extensive alluvial meadows interspersed with clusters of trees and shrubs. Another key feature of the landscape is the Horní Bartošovický pond, surrounded by reed beds, and part of the reserve also includes an extensively managed orchard.

Why was the area protected?

The reserve was established in 2002 and covers almost 297 hectares. Its value lies in the concentration of habitats typical of the Poodří bioregion — from wet riparian forests and open floodplain meadows to standing and flowing water bodies. Bartošovický luh forms part of the supraregional Odra floodplain biocentre, and as a section of the Odra valley it also falls under protection as part of the Ramsar Convention on wetlands of international importance, particularly as a habitat for waterfowl.

What wildlife can be found here?

The mosaic of habitats — from oxbow lakes and reed beds to riparian forests and wet meadows — supports a rich diversity of waterfowl and species tied to floodplain woodlands. The flooded meadows and the fishpond serve as feeding and breeding grounds for water birds, while the mature riparian woodland provides shelter for forest-dwelling species. The river ecosystem, with its natural meanders, also helps preserve the invertebrate and fish fauna typical of such valleys.

How can visitors explore the reserve?

In 2003 a nature trail called Zámecká naučná stezka was marked out through the area. It begins in the castle park in Bartošovice and forms a five-kilometre loop, with ten information panels along the way describing both the natural features of the Odra valley and the local cultural heritage tied to Bartošovice. It is a gentle route, well suited to a family walk or a bike ride, running alongside the river's meanders and the edge of the floodplain meadows.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Bartošovický luh located? The reserve lies on the right bank of the Odra River, west of the village of Bartošovice, in the Nový Jičín district, within the Poodří Protected Landscape Area.

How large is the reserve? It covers almost 297 hectares, including the river channel, riparian forests, floodplain meadows and a fishpond.

Since when has the area been protected? It was granted nature reserve status in 2002.

Is there a marked trail through the reserve? Yes, the five-kilometre Zámecká naučná stezka with ten information panels, starting from the castle park in Bartošovice.

Why does the site have international significance? As part of the Odra river valley, it belongs to the wetlands protected under the Ramsar Convention because of their importance for waterfowl.