Míšovské buky

Míšovské buky is a small protected nature monument located roughly three kilometres south of the village of Míšov, in the Plzeň-jih district of the Czech Republic, within the wider Brdy landscape region. The site covers just 5 hectares and sits at an elevation of around 650 metres, on the gentle northern slope of the 805-metre hill Nad Marastkem. The monument was created to safeguard a surviving fragment of acidic beech forest and fir-beech woodland — habitat types that have become increasingly scarce across this part of western Bohemia.

What makes this forest worth protecting?

The core value of Míšovské buky lies in its remaining stand of old-growth beech trees mixed with fir. The area was historically covered by mixed spruce-beech forest, but over time spruce has gradually taken over, and the forest is now shifting toward a spruce monoculture. Scattered among the younger spruce stands, however, are individual old beech trees — some considerably older than the surrounding commercial forest — and it is precisely these veteran trees that give the site its ecological and scientific value.

When was the reserve established?

The area was declared a protected nature monument in 1955, making it one of the older nature conservation designations in the Plzeň region. Since then, its management has followed a dedicated conservation plan (plán péče) aimed at protecting the remaining old beech trees from logging and allowing native broadleaf species room to regenerate naturally, rather than being crowded out entirely by spruce.

What else is nearby?

Míšovské buky is not an isolated protected patch. Just to the east lie two further small nature monuments, Getsemanka and Na Skalách, and all three sit within the broader Brdy region — an area known for its extensive forests, granite outcrops, and a history as a former military training ground, which for decades kept tourist pressure low and allowed much of the landscape to retain a relatively untouched character.

The village of Míšov itself, from which the reserve takes its name, is a former glassmaking and ironworking settlement in the valley below. From there, hiking trails lead uphill toward the nearby Chynínské buky, a larger beech reserve in the same area. Visitors who come to see Míšovské buky typically combine it with a longer walk through the surrounding Brdy hills, drawn by the quiet and the lack of heavy tourist infrastructure.

Frequently asked questions

How large is the Míšovské buky reserve? The protected area covers 5 hectares.

When was it established? It was declared a nature monument in 1955.

What tree species dominate the site? Mainly beech and fir, though the forest is gradually transitioning toward spruce, with a number of old beech trees still preserved.

Where exactly is it located? About 3 km south of Míšov, in the Plzeň-jih district, at roughly 650 metres above sea level, in the Brdy region.

Are there other similar sites nearby? Yes, the nature monuments Getsemanka and Na Skalách lie a short distance to the east.