About this place
Hrádecká bahna is a small nature monument on the northeastern edge of the town of Hrádek, in the Rokycany district of the Pilsen Region in western Czechia. The protected area lies in the floodplain of the Klabava river, squeezed between the riverbed itself and railway line No. 175, which connects Rokycany with Nezvěstice.
Where exactly is this site located?
The reserve covers just 2.75 hectares, at an elevation of 397 to 403 metres. It's a small but clearly defined stretch of the Klabava valley, protected because of the particular wetland conditions the river creates here.
Why was this area protected?
Hrádecká bahna was declared a protected site in 1989. The subject of protection is wet meadows and boggy ground hosting plant species under strict legal protection in the Czech Republic. It was precisely this floral richness that earned this small piece of the valley its nature monument status.
What plants grow here?
The reserve's vegetation consists of floristically rich wet meadows, fen communities, sedge stands, and alder scrub. Among the protected species found here are the marsh helleborine, grass of Parnassus, round-leaved sundew, and broad-leaved cottongrass, along with the moss Hamatocaulis vernicosus. The site is also home to species listed on the Czech Red List of threatened plants, including dwarf scorzonera, marsh valerian, and dwarf grey willow.
This diversity comes from the way several habitat types overlap within a very small area — from wet meadows, through sedge grasslands, to boggy willow-alder thickets. Such a mosaic of habitats has become increasingly rare in the surrounding farmed landscape, which adds to the site's ecological value.
Who manages the reserve?
The site falls under the administration of the Pilsen Regional Authority (Krajský úřad Plzeňského kraje), which is responsible for the management plan and for maintaining the water conditions the sensitive wetland vegetation depends on.
How do you get to Hrádecká bahna?
Cycling route No. 3, which links Hrádek u Rokycan with the village of Dobřív, passes near the reserve. It's a convenient way to include this small but ecologically valuable corner of the Klabava valley in a longer bike trip through the Rokycany region.
Frequently asked questions
What is Hrádecká bahna? It's a Czech nature monument protecting wet meadows and fens in the Klabava river floodplain, right next to the town of Hrádek in the Rokycany district.
How big is the protected area? The reserve covers 2.75 hectares, at an elevation of 397–403 metres.
Since when has it been protected? The site was declared a protected area in 1989.
What rare species can be found here? Among others, the marsh helleborine, grass of Parnassus, round-leaved sundew, broad-leaved cottongrass, and the moss Hamatocaulis vernicosus.
Can you reach it by bike? Yes, cycling route No. 3 between Hrádek u Rokycan and Dobřív runs close to the reserve.
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