Kříženecké mokřady

Kříženecké mokřady is a small yet ecologically significant protected area lying just south of the town of Hartmanice, in the Klatovy district of the Plzeň Region in the Czech Republic. The reserve stretches along roughly half a kilometre of the Radešovský stream valley near the former settlement of Kříženec, covering a modest area of about 4.7 hectares. Sitting at an elevation of 710 to 780 metres above sea level, it belongs to the cool, moisture-laden landscape typical of the foothills of the Šumava mountains.

Why is this place protected?

The area has been under formal protection since 2008, safeguarding the natural character of a montane alder swamp forest and a waterlogged spruce forest, along with the plant communities that have developed in its treeless sections. It is precisely this mosaic of habitats — from wooded slopes to open, waterlogged meadows and sedge stands — that gives the reserve its ecological importance. Legally, it falls under IUCN category III, classified locally as a "natural monument," a designation reserved for sites with high nature value but relatively limited size.

What is there to see?

At the heart of the reserve lies the headwater stretch of the Radešovský stream, which carves a series of small natural cascades through a narrow ravine — the result of erosion acting on the underlying rock and the steep drop in terrain. The water flowing through the wetland keeps the soil consistently saturated, creating ideal conditions for peatland and forest vegetation. Among the plant species recorded here are wavy hair-grass, hairy wood-reed, lady fern, wood horsetail and bilberry, alongside numerous other species characteristic of montane wetland and peat habitats. This richness of ground cover and understorey vegetation makes the site, despite its small footprint, a valuable piece of the broader ecological mosaic of the Šumava region.

Who manages the reserve?

Kříženecké mokřady is overseen by the Nature and Landscape Protection Agency of the Czech Republic, working in cooperation with the Administration of the Šumava National Park and Protected Landscape Area. This kind of shared management is common for smaller protected sites located near larger national park territories, with the park administration supporting the national agency in monitoring and maintaining these specialised habitats.

Getting there and what to expect

Lying off the region's main tourist routes, Kříženecké mokřady is more a destination for nature enthusiasts than a must-see stop on a typical sightseeing itinerary. Its proximity to Hartmanice — a small town that serves as a natural gateway to this part of the Šumava foothills — makes access straightforward, though the wetland itself, given its protected status and sensitive habitats, is best explored carefully, keeping to marked paths where available. Sturdy, waterproof footwear is advisable, since the ground stays wet for much of the year and the soil near the stream's source can be particularly unstable.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Kříženecké mokřady located? South of Hartmanice, in the Klatovy district, near the former settlement of Kříženec, in the valley of the upper Radešovský stream.

How large is the protected area? The reserve covers about 4.7 hectares and extends over roughly half a kilometre of the stream valley.

Since when has this site been protected? Formal protection was established in 2008.

What is the main natural attraction here? The natural cascades in the ravine at the stream's headwaters, together with the mosaic of waterlogged forests and peatland vegetation.

Who is responsible for managing the reserve? The Nature and Landscape Protection Agency of the Czech Republic, in cooperation with the Administration of the Šumava National Park and Protected Landscape Area.