Boubínský prales

Boubínský prales is one of the last surviving fragments of the primeval forest that once blanketed the Šumava mountains in southern Bohemia. The reserve sits on the southeastern slopes of Mount Boubín (1362 m above sea level), at elevations between 920 and 1110 meters, within the Šumava Protected Landscape Area. It is managed by the Šumava National Park and Protected Landscape Area Administration.

What makes this forest so unusual?

It is the third-oldest nature reserve in the Czech Republic, established back in 1858 — making it one of the earliest protected natural areas in Central Europe. The reserve safeguards a mixed beech-fir-spruce forest with sycamore maple, widely regarded as the best-preserved remnant of the once-extensive mountain forests that covered the Šumava range. The underlying bedrock consists of gneiss, amphibolite, and coarse-grained granite.

Who founded it, and why?

The reserve was declared by Prince Jan Adolf Schwarzenberg at the initiative of Josef John, forest manager of the Vimperk estate. The goal was to preserve a piece of untouched mountain forest before commercial forestry could turn the entire region into managed monocultures.

How has the protected area changed over time?

The original reserve covered 150 hectares, but a destructive storm in 1870 badly damaged much of the woodland. The surviving 46 hectares of true primeval forest were given state nature reserve status in 1933. Then, in 1958 — exactly one hundred years after its founding — the protected territory was expanded to 666 hectares (666.41 ha today), taking in a much wider area around Mount Boubín beyond just the original old-growth core.

What trees grow here?

Some of the oldest specimens are up to 400 years old and reach roughly 50 meters in height. These towering spruces, firs, and beeches have never been logged, which has allowed the forest to retain its natural, multi-layered structure, complete with fallen trunks and deadwood — a hallmark of true old-growth ecosystems.

How can visitors explore Boubínský prales?

An educational trail nearly four kilometers long runs around the perimeter of the reserve, with nine stops highlighting its history and natural features. The route lets visitors experience the area without entering its most sensitive core zones, since the heart of the primeval forest remains under strict protection.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors walk inside the old-growth core? The most valuable parts of the primeval forest are under strict protection; visits mainly follow the marked educational trail that circles the reserve.

How old are the oldest trees? Some specimens reach an age of up to 400 years.

How large is the reserve today? Following the 1958 expansion, the protected area covers 666.41 hectares, though the strictly protected old-growth core itself is much smaller.

Where exactly is Boubínský prales located? On the southeastern slopes of Mount Boubín in the Šumava range, at 920–1110 m above sea level, near the village of Horní Vltavice.