Lužany

Lužany is a nature monument located on the eastern edge of the municipality of Lužany, in the Plzeň-South District of the Czech Republic. The protected area lies close to Zelené, one of the constituent parts of the Lužany municipality alongside Lužany itself, Dlouhá Louka, and Zelená Hora. Its approximate coordinates are 49.5454 N, 13.3196 E.

What does this nature monument protect?

The site was designated for protection because of a preserved meandering stretch of the Úhlava river's riverbed, together with the accompanying alluvial forest. River meanders are naturally winding, looping sections of a watercourse — features that have become increasingly rare as most rivers have been straightened or regulated, which is exactly why surviving stretches like this one carry significant ecological value. Alluvial forest, a type of woodland periodically flooded by river water, creates a distinctive habitat that supports a range of plant and animal species adapted to wet, water-influenced conditions.

The area is registered in the Czech list of specially protected territories under registration number 231. It is managed by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR), the institution responsible for overseeing the country's network of nature reserves and natural monuments.

What is Zelené and what can visitors find there?

Zelené is a small settlement forming part of the Lužany municipality. In and around the village there are examples of small-scale religious folk architecture typical of the Czech countryside, including a lime tree growing beside a wayside chapel known as "Toušojc," as well as two lime trees said, according to local tradition, to have been planted next to a roadside cross on the edge of the village around 1782. Old trees standing beside chapels and crosses like these are a common feature of the Czech rural landscape, tying the history of settlement to local tradition and collective memory.

The Lužany municipality also maintains an educational trail dedicated to the history and nature of the surrounding area, reflecting an active local effort to raise awareness of the region's landscape among residents and visitors alike.

Why is this place worth a visit?

The Lužany nature monument appeals to travelers interested in lesser-known, low-key protected areas away from crowded tourist attractions. It offers a chance to see a river left to follow its own natural course, with characteristic meanders and the alluvial vegetation that grows alongside them. Combined with the proximity of Zelené, with its old lime trees and wayside chapel, the area invites a quiet walk that brings together nature and local history.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly does the Lužany nature monument protect? A preserved meandering section of the Úhlava river's riverbed together with its accompanying alluvial forest.

Where exactly is the area located? On the eastern edge of the Lužany municipality, in the Plzeň-South District, near the village of Zelené.

Who manages this protected area? The Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR).

What is worth seeing in nearby Zelené? The "Toušojc" wayside chapel with a lime tree growing beside it, and two old lime trees next to a roadside cross on the edge of the village, believed to date from around 1782.