About this place
Kozí stráň is a small but ecologically significant nature reserve located in the cadastral territory of Kyselov, within the municipality of Černá v Pošumaví, in the Český Krumlov district of the South Bohemian Region. The site falls under the administration of the Šumava National Park and covers 31.93 hectares at an altitude of 728 to 748 metres above sea level. It was granted protected status in 2009 and is classified as a species habitat area under IUCN category IV.
Where does the name come from?
The name Kozí stráň refers to a former settlement that once stood in this area and gradually disappeared over time. Although no visible traces of the village remain today, its name lives on, now attached to the protected natural area that occupies this part of the Šumava region.
What exactly does the reserve protect?
The reserve was established to safeguard plant and animal communities associated with waterlogged and peat meadows, as well as wet successional habitats in the floodplain of the Rothovský stream and its unnamed tributaries. It also protects an old, permanently damp forest that has retained much of its natural character, forming an important part of the mosaic of habitats found here.
Wetland meadows, transitional peat bogs and waterlogged old-growth forest are increasingly rare across the Czech landscape, which makes legal protection of sites like Kozí stráň valuable for preserving biodiversity in the wider Šumava region. The combination of damp meadows and mature stands of trees creates conditions favourable to species that depend on a specific microclimate and consistently high soil moisture.
Where exactly is the reserve located?
Kozí stráň lies within the Vltava river basin, on the right bank of the Lipno reservoir, in the municipality of Černá v Pošumaví — one of the more popular tourist destinations in the Lipno region. The reserve's coordinates are approximately 48°41′13″ N, 14°2′2″ E.
Is the reserve open to visitors?
Unlike many tourist attractions, Kozí stráň is not equipped with lookout towers or marked educational trails — it is first and foremost a nature protection area where the priority is preserving valuable habitats in as natural a state as possible. Still, visitors exploring the area around Černá v Pošumaví and the Lipno reservoir may encounter this small but ecologically important fragment of the Šumava borderland landscape while hiking through the wider region.
Frequently asked questions
How large is the Kozí stráň reserve? The protected area covers 31.93 hectares.
When was the reserve established? It was granted protected status on 30 April 2009.
What is specifically protected here? Waterlogged and peat meadows, successional habitats in the Rothovský stream floodplain, and an old, permanently damp forest.
Who manages the reserve? It is administered by the Šumava National Park Administration.
Where does the reserve's name come from? From a former settlement, no longer in existence, that once stood on this site.
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