Chmelinec

Chmelinec is a small nature reserve (přírodní památka) tucked into the valley of the Drietomica stream, on the northeastern edge of the village of Vyškovec, within the Bílé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Bílé Karpaty) in Moravia. The municipality of Starý Hrozenkov borders this protected landscape zone, making the reserve an easy addition to a quiet, nature-focused day out in the White Carpathians.

What does the Chmelinec reserve protect?

The reserve covers 2.76 hectares and was declared protected in 1982. Its purpose is to safeguard wetland floodplain meadows stretching along the valley floor of the Drietomica stream. This habitat type is characteristic of the White Carpathians — groundwater-fed, moisture-rich meadows that still support plant communities increasingly rare in Central Europe, communities that depend on traditional, low-intensity mowing rather than intensive farming.

What plants grow here?

On the wettest sections of the meadows, the early marsh orchid (prstnatec májový) grows abundantly, alongside the marsh helleborine (kruštík bahenní) and the imbricate gladiolus (mečík střechovitý) — species that signal a healthy wetland ecosystem. On the drier margins of the reserve, visitors can find the elder-flowered orchid (prstnatec bezový), the globe orchid (hlavinka horská), the wild columbine (orlíček planý), and the clustered bellflower (zvonek klubkatý). This mix of orchid species and flower-rich meadow vegetation makes Chmelinec one of the more valuable botanical sites in this part of the White Carpathians.

What animals live in the reserve?

The damp meadows of the Drietomica valley provide an important habitat for dragonflies tied to valley wetlands. Several notable species have been recorded here, including the club-tailed dragonfly known locally as páskovec dvojzubý, the variable damselfly (šídlo pestré), and two further species referred to locally as vážka žlutavá and vážka tmavá. Their presence confirms that the wetlands have retained a natural water regime, which dragonfly larvae depend on to develop.

Is there a spring nearby?

Yes — along the path leading from Vyškovec toward the Vlčí hill, on the left-hand side of the trail, there is a spring that shares the reserve's name, Chmelinec. The water is hard, with an elevated bicarbonate content, and has long been valued by locals and hikers alike as a spot to rest and refill water bottles during a walk through the White Carpathians.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Chmelinec located? The reserve lies in the valley of the Drietomica stream, on the northeastern edge of the village of Vyškovec, within the Bílé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area, close to the borders of the Starý Hrozenkov municipality.

How big is the reserve? Chmelinec covers 2.76 hectares and has been protected since 1982.

What is the main conservation focus? Wetland floodplain meadows along the stream valley floor, together with the rare plant and dragonfly species they support.

Can visitors see orchids here? Yes, several orchid species grow in the reserve, including the early marsh orchid and the elder-flowered orchid.

Is there drinking water available nearby? Along the trail from Vyškovec to Vlčí there is the Chmelinec spring, known for its hard water with a high bicarbonate content.