Mokřiny u Beřovic

Mokřiny u Beřovic is a small natural monument of just under 13 hectares straddling the boundary between two villages in the Kladno district of Central Bohemia — Beřovice and Hobšovice. The protected area covers wetlands around the former Hobšovický pond, which actually gave the site its original name until 2008. It sits at roughly 50.27°N, 14.14°E, with Beřovice itself located about 5 km northeast of the town of Slaný.

What is being protected here?

The main purpose of the reserve is to safeguard nesting, roosting and stopover sites for birds, together with the wetland plants and animals that depend on this kind of habitat. The area combines open water with marshy meadows and reed beds, forming a mosaic typical of lowland wetlands in central Europe. A buffer zone of nearly 11 additional hectares surrounds the core area, shielding it from disturbance coming from the surrounding land use.

When was it protected?

The site first received legal protection in June 1990, with its boundaries and status updated over the years — most recently in 2008, when it was also renamed from Hobšovický rybník (Hobšovice Pond) to its current name, Mokřiny u Beřovic ("Wetlands near Beřovice"). It is managed by the Central Bohemian Regional Authority, which oversees protected areas of this category across the region.

Why do these wetlands matter?

Wetlands along lowland rivers and around old fishponds are among the most threatened habitat types in the Czech Republic, with many historically drained for agriculture. Mokřiny u Beřovic is one of the few surviving fragments of this kind of landscape in the Kladno district, which makes it a valuable stopover for birds migrating along ecological corridors through Central Bohemia in spring and autumn. The combination of open water, reed beds and wet meadows provides shelter and food both for resident species and for birds passing through only briefly during migration.

What should visitors know before coming?

The reserve borders the Hobšovický pond and a golf course, both useful landmarks when approaching from the Hobšovice side. As a small natural monument, it follows the restrictions typical of this protection category: the priority is keeping birds undisturbed, especially during the nesting and migration seasons, so visitors should stay away from the water's edge and keep noise to a minimum. This is a destination for birdwatchers and nature observers rather than a site set up for active recreation — there is no visitor infrastructure of the kind found in larger reserves.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Mokřiny u Beřovic located? On the border between the villages of Beřovice and Hobšovice in the Kladno district of Central Bohemia, about 5 km northeast of Slaný.

How large is the protected area? The core zone covers just under 13 hectares, with an additional buffer zone of nearly 11 hectares around it.

Since when has the area been protected? Since 1990, with an update to its boundaries and name in 2008 — before that it was known as Hobšovický rybník.

What can you see there? Mainly waterbirds and migratory species using the wet meadows, reed beds and the former pond for feeding and resting.