Dolní mušovský luh

Dolní mušovský luh is a nature reserve in the municipality of Ivaň in South Moravia, protecting one of the last remaining fragments of natural floodplain forest in this part of the Czech Republic. Covering just under 49 hectares at the confluence of the Jihlava and Svratka rivers, next to the Věstonice reservoir, it forms an important refuge for wetland birds.

Getting there

The reserve lies about 2.5 km southeast of the village of Ivaň, in the Brno-venkov district of the South Moravian Region. It sits within the area of the Nové Mlýny reservoirs (Novomlýnské nádrže) — a large chain of artificial lakes created on the Dyje river, popular with birdwatchers and hikers alike. Driving from Brno takes under an hour, and the reserve can be explored on foot or by bike along paths that follow the flood embankments and the reservoir shoreline.

What you'll see

The protected area covers a stretch of the right bank of the Jihlava river at the point where it merges with the Svratka, shortly before both flow into the Věstonice reservoir. The dominant vegetation is lowland floodplain forest, dominated by pedunculate oak and narrow-leafed ash, with an admixture of hornbeam and lime. The terrain is crossed by numerous oxbows and dead branches of the Jihlava, forming pools fringed with reed beds and stands of willow and poplar — a landscape typical of an unregulated river valley.

This mosaic of forest, water and reed marsh is what makes Dolní mušovský luh so valuable for birdlife. The site serves as an important nesting ground for species tied to wetland habitats, and in winter it becomes a communal roost for white-tailed eagles — one of Europe's largest birds of prey. The presence of this species, often seen as a symbol of untouched wilderness, makes the reserve a particularly rewarding destination for birdwatchers, especially in the colder months when eagles gather at their roosting sites in larger numbers.

Despite its modest size, the reserve has retained the character of a genuine floodplain forest — an ecosystem that once covered large stretches of the river valleys of South Moravia but has become increasingly rare due to river channelization and agricultural conversion of the Dyje valley and its tributaries. Protecting this type of habitat matters not only for biodiversity but also for the landscape itself, preserving a trace of what the valley looked like before the Nové Mlýny reservoirs were built.

Nature protection

The area was declared a protected natural monument (přírodní památka) in 1990, aimed at preventing further degradation of one of the region's last remaining patches of natural floodplain forest. The protection covers both the tree stands and the network of oxbow lakes and nesting habitats within the reserve.

When to visit

Spring and early summer are the best times to observe wetland birds, when nesting activity is at its peak and the reserve is at its liveliest. Eagle enthusiasts, on the other hand, should plan a winter visit, when white-tailed eagles gather at their roosts near the reservoir. Binoculars and sturdy footwear are recommended, as the ground can be waterlogged, particularly when water levels are high.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Dolní mušovský luh reserve protect? It protects a fragment of natural floodplain forest at the confluence of the Jihlava and Svratka rivers, along with its network of oxbow lakes and wetland bird habitats.

Where exactly is the reserve located? It lies about 2.5 km southeast of the village of Ivaň, next to the Věstonice reservoir, in the Brno-venkov district of South Moravia.

What birds can be seen here? The site is an important breeding ground for wetland bird species, and in winter it serves as a roosting site for white-tailed eagles.

Since when has the area been protected? It was designated a natural monument in 1990 to protect the remaining floodplain forest of South Moravia.