Jelení vrchy

Jelení vrchy is a nature monument covering the summit areas of two hills – Velký Jelení vrch (514 m) and Malý Jelení vrch (500 m) – on the Ralská pahorkatina (Ralsko highland) in the eastern part of the Česká Lípa district, within the cadastral territory of Svébořice. The site lies about three kilometers south of Hamr na Jezeře and forms part of Geopark Ralsko.

What is the background of this protected site?

The area was first placed under protection in 1996 and was renamed Jelení vrchy in 2012. It is classified among the small-scale specially protected areas of the former Ralsko military training ground and is administered by the Ministry of the Environment through the Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic. The protected zone covers 7.91 hectares at an elevation of 470–514 meters.

How did these hills form?

Upper Cretaceous quartzose sandstones of Middle Turonian age were pierced during the Tertiary by two basalt bodies, which today form the rocky summits of both hills. On the summit of Velký Jelení vrch, where the basalt vein reaches the surface, visitors can observe columnar jointing of basalt — a structure that formed as the magma cooled. This makes the site significant not only for its ecology but also for geology, and it is recognized as one of the region's notable geological localities.

What kind of vegetation and wildlife live here?

The area holds a naturally valuable forest complex, dominated by beech stands and scree forests. On the exposed basalt rock outcrops at the summits of both hills, semi-xerothermic non-forest vegetation has developed, home to rare plant and animal species tied to this type of habitat. The combination of sun-exposed rocky summits and the surrounding forest creates a mosaic of habitats that adds to the region's biodiversity.

Where exactly are Jelení vrchy located?

Both hills, formed of basalt and sandstone, lie on the Ralská pahorkatina near the village of Svébořice, roughly three kilometers south of Hamr na Jezeře. The land was historically part of the former Ralsko military training ground, which for decades restricted access and, as a result, helped preserve the area's natural character.

Frequently asked questions

What are Jelení vrchy? A Czech nature monument covering the summit parts of two hills, Velký Jelení vrch and Malý Jelení vrch, on the Ralská pahorkatina in the Česká Lípa district.

How high are these hills? Velký Jelení vrch reaches 514 m and Malý Jelení vrch 500 m; the protected area lies at an elevation of 470–514 m.

Since when has the site been protected? Protection was established in 1996, and the site received its current name, Jelení vrchy, in 2012.

What makes it ecologically valuable? Basalt rock outcrops with visible columnar jointing, beech and scree forests, and semi-xerothermic non-forest vegetation supporting rare plant and animal species.

How large is the protected area? The nature monument covers 7.91 hectares.