Háj Petra Bezruče

Háj Petra Bezruče is a nature reserve (přírodní památka) south of Petrohrad, within the joint municipality of Petrohrad, Černčice and Bílenec, in the Ústí nad Labem region of the Czech Republic. The protected area covers the hills of Ovčí vrch (451 m) and Všech Svatých (460 m) and directly borders the castle park in Petrohrad, merging into the sparsely wooded slope of the Všech Svatých hill.

Why is this site protected?

The reserve exists primarily to protect habitats and species of xylophagous (wood-feeding) insects that depend on old, decaying trees. The most significant of these is the hermit beetle (Osmoderma barnabita), a species tied to hollow, ancient broadleaf trees and widely used as an indicator of long-undisturbed, high-quality woodland. Its presence at Háj Petra Bezruče points to a stand of trees with a natural character and long ecological continuity — something increasingly rare in the Czech agricultural landscape.

History of the area

While the reserve itself is a relatively recent administrative creation — its original protected status was revoked in July 2011 and the area was subsequently redesignated by decision of the Ústí Regional Council — the land it occupies has a much older history. The earliest written mention of the area dates back to 1358. Before that date, Petr z Janovic, known as Pešek, had the Petrohrad castle built here; its ruins remain an important regional landmark to this day. Atop the neighboring Všech Svatých hill stands a small rotunda alongside the Petrohrad castle ruins, together forming a coherent historical and landscape complex with Háj Petra Bezruče.

What to know when visiting the area

This is not a reserve built around visitor infrastructure — its value lies in its ecology rather than in tourist facilities. Still, its direct connection to the Petrohrad castle park and the ruins on Všech Svatých hill means a walk through the area combines contact with nature with a sense of regional history. Visitors should avoid disturbing dead or decaying wood, since these very trees provide the habitat the protected insect species depend on.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Háj Petra Bezruče located? South of Petrohrad, within the municipality covering Petrohrad, Černčice and Bílenec, in the Louny district of the Ústí nad Labem region, on the Ovčí vrch and Všech Svatých hills.

Why was the area given protected status? For the habitats and populations of xylophagous insects, most notably the hermit beetle (Osmoderma barnabita), which depends on old, hollow broadleaf trees.

Are there other attractions nearby? Yes — the reserve borders the castle park in Petrohrad and the Všech Svatých hill, home to a rotunda and the ruins of Petrohrad castle, founded before 1358 by Petr z Janovic.

Does the reserve have a long history of protection? Not entirely — its original protective status was revoked in 2011 and then re-established by decision of the Ústí Regional Council, even though the land and its woodland have a much longer history.