Lukšovská

Lukšovská is a small but ecologically valuable nature reserve in the Jihlavské vrchy highlands, about 1.5 km north of the village of Řídelov in the Jihlava district of the Czech Republic. The protected area covers 21.78 hectares within a flat, wide valley formed by an unnamed stream, roughly 500 meters west of the Farský kopec hill (669 m above sea level). The reserve sits at an elevation of 632–650 meters and was officially declared in 1984.

What does the reserve protect?

The reserve's core purpose is to preserve natural forest communities growing on permanently waterlogged soil: swamped spruce stands and streamside alder woods. The valley's shape — broad, shallow, and dotted with numerous springs and several small streams — keeps the ground saturated almost year-round, creating a habitat that is uncommon elsewhere in this part of the highlands.

What kind of vegetation grows here?

The forest stands are notable for their high share of common spruce (Picea abies), and the trees here represent an original, native spruce genotype specific to the Vysočina region — a population considered important for preserving the species' genetic resources locally. These spruce stands form stable plant communities adapted to submontane waterlogged conditions. Alongside the spruce, alder grows throughout the reserve, and the forest floor supports species such as wood anemone, marsh marigold, alpine snowbell (dřípatka horská), and clubmoss.

Why is it worth a visit?

Lukšovská is not designed for mass tourism — it is primarily a scientifically and ecologically significant site, documenting what the region's waterlogged spruce forests looked like before intensive forestry reshaped the landscape. For nature and botany enthusiasts, it offers a rare chance to see a natural forest community thriving under constant moisture, with its distinctive bog-forest flora and springs emerging directly from the valley floor.

How do you get there?

The reserve lies within the cadastral territory of Řídelov, about 1.5 km north of the village, in the direction of the Farský kopec hill. The surrounding area belongs to the quiet, partly forested Jihlavské vrchy highlands, away from major tourist routes, which makes it a peaceful spot for observing nature in an undisturbed setting.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Lukšovská reserve established? The Lukšovská nature reserve was declared in 1984.

How large is the protected area? The reserve covers 21.78 hectares, at an elevation of 632 to 650 meters above sea level.

What is the main subject of protection? Waterlogged spruce forests and streamside alder woods, including an original common spruce genotype typical of the Vysočina region.

Where exactly is the reserve located? About 1.5 km north of the village of Řídelov, 500 meters west of the Farský kopec hill, in the Jihlavské vrchy highlands.

Is the reserve equipped for tourists? It is a nature and science-oriented protected area without extensive tourist infrastructure — visitors are advised to move carefully and respect the protected plant life.