Černická Obora

Černická Obora is a historic game preserve and protected natural monument in southern Bohemia, in the Tábor district, close to the village of Sudoměřice u Bechyně and near Bechyňská Smoleč. The protected area covers just over 11 hectares of woodland and ranks among the oldest conservation sites in the Czech Republic.

Where does the name come from and what is the history behind it?

The preserve was founded in 1586 by Petr Vok of Rožmberk, the last male member of the powerful Rožmberk noble family. It was created to breed game animals — wild boar, red deer and fallow deer — across a long, narrow strip of land stretching many kilometers. As early as 1880 part of this territory was declared a nature reserve, making Černická Obora one of the oldest protected areas anywhere in Czech lands. The name recalls the former village of Černice, which no longer exists but once stood at the heart of the preserve.

What can visitors see here today?

At the core of the area is an old mixed forest stand dominated by hornbeam and pedunculate oak, accompanied by mature specimens of Scots pine, spruce and silver fir. This multi-species, multi-age structure gives the woodland a distinctly different character from the more uniform commercial forests typical of the surrounding countryside. Walking through the preserve, visitors can spot both centuries-old trees and younger undergrowth, a legacy of the relatively low-intensity forestry practiced here since the preserve was first established.

Where exactly is the preserve located?

Černická Obora lies just east of the village of Sudoměřice u Bechyně, near a former hunting lodge and a onetime gamekeeper's house that today serves facilities connected to a nearby golf course. The site sits at approximately 49.29°N, 14.56°E, in a quiet rural corner of the South Bohemian Region, away from larger towns — an area well suited to peaceful walks and close contact with nature.

Why is it worth a visit?

The preserve blends history with nature: walking through this former hunting ground evokes the era of the Rožmberk lords, while the surrounding forest has developed here for close to four and a half centuries. Nature lovers will appreciate the variety of tree species and the long history of protection, dating back to the late 19th century. The proximity of a golf course and the nearby town of Bechyně, known for its historic castle and ceramics tradition, make it easy to combine a visit to the preserve with other regional attractions.

Frequently asked questions

What is an "obora" in the historical sense? An obora is a fenced or otherwise enclosed forest area, traditionally established by noble landowners near their manors and castles for breeding and hunting game animals.

Who founded Černická Obora and when? It was founded in 1586 by Petr Vok of Rožmberk, the last male heir of the Rožmberk family.

Since when has the area been protected as a nature reserve? Part of the territory was already protected in 1880, placing Černická Obora among the oldest nature reserves in the present-day Czech Republic.

Which tree species dominate the preserve? Hornbeam and pedunculate oak are the most common, joined by mature Scots pine, spruce and silver fir.

Where is the preserve located relative to Bechyňská Smoleč? It lies near the village of Sudoměřice u Bechyně, close to a former hunting lodge, and only a short distance from Bechyňská Smoleč.