Kepelské mokřady

Kepelské mokřady is a nature reserve in the Šumava region of the Czech Republic, situated in the Klatovy district roughly one kilometer southwest of the village of Keply, between the settlements of Hartmanice, Velhartice, and Čachrov. The protected area covers 68 hectares and falls under the administration of the Šumava National Park and Protected Landscape Area authority.

What kind of landscape is this?

The reserve is made up of a mix of raised peat bogs and waterlogged meadows, a habitat type considered one of the ecologically richer enclaves in the Šumava region. The area is also significant hydrologically: it contains the springs of several left-bank tributaries feeding into the Křemelná stream, part of the wider river network draining this section of the Czech uplands. Protecting these water sources was one of the central reasons for establishing the reserve.

Why was the area protected?

Kepelské mokřady received official protected status in 1995. The designation was driven mainly by the presence of critically endangered plant and animal species, natural forest stands, characteristic bog vegetation, and the water sources themselves. A biological inventory survey recorded 124 species of vascular plants within the reserve, of which 16 appear on the Red List of threatened species under IUCN threat categories. Among them are mountain arnica (Arnica montana) and round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) — an insectivorous plant typical of nutrient-poor bog environments.

Which animals live here?

The reserve's fauna is closely tied to its wet habitats. One of its most notable residents is the alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris), an amphibian that favors clean, cool bodies of water of the kind that form naturally in the depressions among the peat bogs. Its presence is generally taken as a sign of a well-preserved aquatic ecosystem.

What does the terrain look like up close?

Raised bogs like those found here typically develop a distinctive cushion-like vegetation structure dominated by peat mosses, interspersed with sedges, cotton grasses, and heath shrubs. The surrounding waterlogged meadows, meanwhile, provide habitat for numerous orchid species, which in this part of Šumava are particularly sensitive to changes in water levels and land management practices. The whole area sits within a landscape typical of Šumava — gently rolling hills, spruce forest, and expansive semi-natural meadows.

Is the reserve accessible to visitors?

Kepelské mokřady lies close to well-known Šumava settlements — Hartmanice, Velhartice, and Čachrov — making it a relatively convenient stop for travelers exploring the region. As with any protected nature reserve, visitors are expected to stick to marked paths and respect conservation rules, avoiding damage to the fragile bog structure or disturbance to the rare species living there.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Kepelské mokřady located? In the Šumava region, Klatovy district, about 1 km southwest of the village of Keply, between Hartmanice, Velhartice, and Čachrov.

When was the reserve established and how large is it? It was designated a protected reserve in 1995 and covers 68 hectares.

What is being protected here? Raised peat bogs, waterlogged meadows, the springs of tributaries feeding the Křemelná stream, and critically endangered species such as mountain arnica and round-leaved sundew, along with wetland-dependent fauna including the alpine newt.