Bosonožský hájek

Bosonožský hájek is a nature reserve on the western edge of Brno's Bosonohy district, in an area known as Zadní boří. Covering nearly 47 hectares, the reserve was granted protected status in 1985 because of the scientific value of its forest and the rare plant species growing there.

Where is Bosonožský hájek located?

The reserve sits on a prominent loess hill surrounded by fields, orchards, and gardens northwest of the Bosonohy built-up area. One of the most distinctive features of the terrain is its dramatic relief: erosion furrows and gullies cut across the slope, deepening into steep ravines toward the lower part of the hill. This landscape formed over centuries as water carved through the loess, a soft, wind-deposited sediment that erodes easily.

What kind of forest grows here?

The reserve today is covered by a near-natural, flower-rich oak-hornbeam forest. This forest type, typical of warmer, nutrient-rich sites in southern Moravia, supports an unusually diverse understory of thermophilic (heat-loving) plants. Eight species of orchids grow within the reserve, the most notable being the lady's slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) — widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and striking orchids in Europe. The population here is relatively stable, making Bosonožský hájek an important site for orchid conservation in the region.

Why does the reserve matter to mycologists?

Beyond its orchids, Bosonožský hájek is also one of the more significant mycological sites near Brno. Researchers have recorded 347 species of macrofungi within the reserve — a remarkably high number that points to a healthy forest ecosystem and long continuity of mature deciduous woodland, conditions that favor rare fungi dependent on decaying wood and leaf litter.

What protection status does the area hold?

Because of its exceptional natural value, Bosonožský hájek has been included in the Natura 2000 network as a site of European significance. This designation reflects that the reserve protects not only a locally valuable habitat but also species and forest types important for biodiversity conservation across the continent.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors walk through Bosonožský hájek? The reserve lies on the edge of Brno and is accessible to walkers, though as a protected area it requires respecting conservation rules — staying on marked paths and not picking any plants, especially the protected orchids.

What makes this reserve stand out? The combination of a rich orchid population, including the lady's slipper orchid, together with an exceptionally high number of macrofungi species within a relatively small area, is rarely found together elsewhere.

When is the best time to visit? Spring and early summer are best for seeing the orchids in bloom, while autumn is the season when the reserve's rich fungal diversity is most visible.

How large is the reserve? Bosonožský hájek covers nearly 47 hectares of oak-hornbeam forest on a loess hill.