Kazatelna

Kazatelna is a protected natural monument located next to the village of Rašín in the Jičín district, in the Hradec Králové Region of eastern Czechia. The protected area sits at an elevation of 276 to 305 metres above sea level and covers nearly 69 hectares, making it one of the larger sites of its kind in the region. It was formally declared a natural monument on 1 September 1998 by the then District Office in Jičín, and today it is managed by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR).

Why is this area protected?

The main reason for establishing the reserve is to preserve a thermophilous oak forest — a type of woodland typical of drier, sun-exposed slopes. Habitats like this have become increasingly rare across Czechia, as they were historically cleared or replaced by farmland and faster-growing tree plantations. At Kazatelna, however, the conditions have remained favourable for a number of rare and endangered plant species that struggle to survive in the more common, moisture-rich lowland forests. The site is classified under IUCN category IV, meaning it is managed primarily to protect specific habitats and species rather than to preserve untouched wilderness as a whole.

What does the surrounding landscape look like?

The countryside around Kazatelna is gently rolling terrain typical of the foothills of the Chlum hill, close to the railway line connecting Turnov and Hradec Králové. The village of Rašín itself sits at roughly 288 metres above sea level, just south of the hill's slope. The local soil is fertile and has long been used for agriculture — where forests once surrounded the village, farmland now dominates the landscape. As a result, the protected oak woodland functions almost like an island of natural habitat within an otherwise agricultural landscape, which adds to its ecological value.

What is worth knowing about the village of Rašín?

Rašín is a small settlement with a long history — the first written mention of it dates back to 1134, when it belonged to the Přemyslid-era Prenéšov family of Hořice. Over the following centuries, ownership of the village changed several times: it was donated to the Strahov Monastery, and in 1661 Emperor Leopold granted it to Petr Strozzi. A land-parcelling reform in 1773 divided the local farmland among 22 households, and the village held its first election of a local representative in 1848. Between 1960 and 1990, Rašín was administratively merged with the neighbouring village of Třebnouševsí before regaining its independence. Historically, residents made their living mainly from farming — sugar beet, maize, grain and potatoes were the main crops — and in the 18th century the village was also known for horse breeding.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Kazatelna located? The natural monument lies next to the village of Rašín in the Jičín district, in the Hradec Králové Region, at an elevation of 276–305 metres above sea level.

When was the protected area established? It was declared on 1 September 1998 and is now managed by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic.

How large is the protected site? The area covers close to 69 hectares.

What exactly is being protected here? Primarily a thermophilous oak forest along with populations of rare and endangered plant species.

Are there other points of interest nearby? The surrounding landscape is gently rolling farmland at the foot of the Chlum hill, and the village of Rašín itself has a settlement history stretching back to the 12th century.