Lysická obora

Lysická obora is a protected natural monument on the edge of the small town of Lysice in the Blansko district, in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It sits on the northwestern outskirts of Lysice, southwest of the village of Drnovice, and consists of a former deer park attached to the grounds of Lysice Castle. Rather than untouched wilderness, it is a historic landscape park where centuries of game-keeping and tree cultivation have produced an unusually rich mix of native and exotic trees.

What is the site actually made up of?

The protected area covers 61.3 hectares surrounding Lysice Castle and forms its historic park. Its Czech name, "obora," refers directly to its original purpose: an enclosed hunting ground used to keep fallow deer and other game for the castle's nobility. Traces of that past survive in the remnants of old tree-lined avenues that once cut through the hunting grounds, giving the park a layered structure that reflects both its practical origin and its later development as an ornamental landscape.

Why was it given protected status?

The site's protection rests mainly on its dendrological value — a collection of old and rare trees, both native Central European species and specimens imported from elsewhere. Among the most notable are two groups of beech trees up to 250 years old, among the oldest of their kind in the region. Even more remarkable is a single Norway spruce with a trunk circumference of 435 centimeters, believed to be possibly the most massive spruce specimen in the entire Czech Republic. Its exceptional size and age led to its official declaration as a "memorial tree" (památný strom) in 2004, granting it individual legal protection separate from the designation of the wider area.

How has the site changed over time?

In 2010, the obora underwent a revitalization project funded through European Union grants. The work cleared neglected sections of the grounds, restored elements of the original avenue layout, and improved accessibility for visitors without disturbing the historic character of the park. As a result, Lysická obora today functions as a walking destination that blends natural and landscape value: rare, centuries-old trees stand alongside remnants of the original park infrastructure, together forming a coherent picture of a 19th-century aristocratic estate landscape.

Frequently asked questions

What does "obora" mean in this context? An obora is a historic, enclosed hunting ground used to raise game animals, typically attached to a noble estate. Lysická obora served this purpose for the nearby castle.

What is the site's standout tree? A Norway spruce with a 435 cm trunk circumference, declared a memorial tree in 2004 and considered one of the most massive specimens of its species in the Czech Republic.

How old are the oldest trees here? The oldest beech groups are up to 250 years old.

How large is the park? The park surrounding Lysice Castle covers 61.3 hectares.

Has the site been restored recently? Yes, a revitalization project funded by EU grants took place in 2010.

Where exactly is Lysická obora located? On the northwestern edge of Lysice, southwest of the village of Drnovice, in the Blansko district of the South Moravian Region.