Hojkovské rašeliniště

Hojkovské rašeliniště (Hojkov Peatland) is a national natural monument located roughly 600 meters south of the village of Hojkov, in the Jihlava district, within the Čeřínek Nature Park. The site was granted protected status in 1982 and covers just under 5 hectares at an elevation of 640–650 meters above sea level.

What kind of place is this?

It is one of the oldest peatlands on the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. The bog formed as far back as the late glacial period, a fact confirmed through pollen analysis of the peat layers, which allows researchers to trace vegetation changes in the region over thousands of years. The protected area combines waterlogged meadows, a genuine peat bog, and a boggy alder forest, all enclosed by surrounding woodland.

Why is it protected?

The peatland shelters habitat for rare and endangered plant species typical of highland bogs and inland wetlands. Among the notable species found here is purple moor-grass (Calamagrostis purpurea), classified as critically endangered in the region. The wet, acidic conditions of the bog sustain a distinctive flora that has largely disappeared from other parts of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands due to drainage and land conversion elsewhere.

What is the history of peat extraction here?

Peat was extracted on a significant scale from the late 19th century until the outbreak of World War I. Extraction continued afterward on a smaller scale for several more decades before finally ending around 1950. Traces of the old peat-cutting activity are still visible in the terrain, though the ecosystem has largely regenerated its original bog character since extraction stopped.

What access do visitors have?

Because of its status as a national natural monument and the sensitivity of the ecosystem, the site is under strict protection. Visitors are permitted only along marked trails running along the edges of the protected area — entering the peatland itself is forbidden. Direct access to the interior is reserved for specialists conducting scientific research, such as botanists, entomologists, and zoologists, who must hold the appropriate permits.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Hojkovské rašeliniště located? About 600 meters south of the village of Hojkov, in the Jihlava district, within the Čeřínek Nature Park.

Can visitors walk directly on the peatland? No. Due to nature protection rules, only researchers with permits may enter the interior. Visitors are restricted to marked trails along the perimeter.

Since when has the area been protected? It has held national natural monument status since 1982.

What makes this peatland notable? It is one of the oldest peat bogs on the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, with a documented history going back to the late glacial period, and it hosts critically endangered plant species, including purple moor-grass.