Děvín a Ostrý

Děvín a Ostrý is a protected nature monument in the Česká Lípa district of northern Bohemia, lying southeast of the village of Hamr na Jezeře within the gently rolling landscape of the Ralská pahorkatina hills. The reserve takes its name from two hills, Děvín and Ostrý, and also includes the neighboring peak of Schachtstein, together forming a small but ecologically rich cluster of hilltops.

What is the history behind these hills?

Děvín, Ostrý and Schachtstein share a history rooted in mining. Iron ore was extracted here as far back as the Middle Ages, with intensive mining activity continuing through the 17th and 18th centuries. Traces of that industrial past are still visible across the site today in the form of old shafts, wells, and excavated trenches cut into the slopes. The mining stripped the hills of much of their forest cover for a long period, but the woodland has since reclaimed the terrain, growing back over the old workings.

What natural habitats are protected here?

Protection focuses on the beech forests crowning the summits, the steep scree-slope forests clinging to the rocky flanks, and remnant pine woodland that has persisted in more exposed spots. In places where the slopes remain more open, patches of heathland vegetation survive as a legacy of past mining and grazing activity. This mix of habitats, ranging from shaded beech stands to sun-exposed dry grassland, gives the reserve an unusually varied character for its modest size.

What wildlife lives in the reserve?

The site is an important refuge for bats: seven species have been recorded here, using the old mine shafts and rock crevices as roosting and hibernation sites. Beyond bats, the hills support numerous bird species associated with deciduous and mixed woodland, along with amphibians, mollusks, and a rich variety of insects, including species tied to old, decaying wood and dry grassland habitats.

When and why was the area protected?

The territory was declared a nature monument on 20 January 1996 by decision of the former Česká Lípa district authority. It is now administered by the Czech Ministry of the Environment. The protection aims to preserve both the valuable forest communities on the summits and slopes, and the unique traces of medieval and early modern iron-ore mining that remain woven into the landscape as evidence of centuries of human activity.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Děvín a Ostrý located? The reserve lies in northern Bohemia, in the Česká Lípa district, southeast of Hamr na Jezeře, within the Ralská pahorkatina hill country.

Can visitors still see traces of past mining? Yes — old shafts, wells, and excavated trenches from historical iron-ore mining, dating back to the Middle Ages and continuing into the 17th and 18th centuries, remain scattered across the site.

Which species are of particular conservation interest? The reserve is especially notable for its bat population, with seven recorded species, alongside a diverse range of birds, amphibians, mollusks, and insects.

Since when has the area been protected? The site was formally designated a nature monument on 20 January 1996.