Borečský vrch

Borečský vrch is a small but remarkable volcanic hill in northern Bohemia, near the village of Bílinka, famous above all for its warm gas vents known as mofettes. These vents keep parts of the hillside warm almost all year round, allowing heat-loving plants to stay green even when the surrounding forests are already buried in snow.

Why is this place protected?

The area has been protected since 1951, and in 1992 the hill was given the status of a national nature monument. Since 2005 it has also been listed as a Site of Community Importance within the European Natura 2000 network. The reason for this high level of protection is the hill's unique microclimate — carbon dioxide and volcanic heat escape through cracks in the rock, creating conditions that are highly unusual for this latitude.

What makes the microclimate so unusual?

The mofette vents warm the soil and the air close to the rock surface, allowing thermophilic and even near-Mediterranean plant species to survive here — species that would have no chance of enduring a normal Central European climate. In winter, when the surrounding countryside is covered in snow and frost, patches of the hillside remain snow-free or visibly steam, a phenomenon that has long drawn the attention of naturalists and visitors alike.

What does the hill itself look like?

Borečský vrch rises to roughly 449 metres above sea level and is built from volcanic rock. Its slopes are covered with deciduous forest, while rocky and scree sections form a mosaic of habitats ranging from thermophilic grasslands to rock-dwelling plant communities. This habitat diversity, combined with the extraordinary microclimate, gives the site significant value for the conservation of rare plants and invertebrates.

How can visitors explore Borečský vrch?

The usual starting point is a village at the hill's north-eastern foot, from which a circular educational trail begins. The route introduces visitors to the geology and conservation history of the site as well as to the mofette phenomenon, without requiring access to the most sensitive, strictly protected parts of the reserve. Because of its status as a national nature monument, visitor movement is restricted to marked paths, balancing public access with the protection of its unique plant communities.

Frequently asked questions

What are the mofettes at Borečský vrch? They are natural vents releasing carbon dioxide and heat from deep underground through cracks in the volcanic rock. They locally warm the soil and air, creating a microclimate that favours heat-loving plants.

Since when has the area been protected? Protection dates back to 1951; the hill became a national nature monument in 1992 and has been part of the European Natura 2000 network since 2005.

Can visitors reach the summit? Access is limited to a marked circular educational trail around the hill — entering the strictly protected core of the reserve is not permitted.

What else is worth seeing besides the mofette phenomenon? The mosaic of habitats — from scree slopes and rocky outcrops to thermophilic grasslands — is worth attention, as are the views over the surrounding northern Bohemian landscape from the hill's slopes.