Mrzínov

Mrzínov is a small but ecologically remarkable nature monument located in the municipality of Vysoká, in the Mělník district of the Central Bohemian Region. Despite covering only 0.78 hectares, the site harbors such a concentration of rare and legally protected plants and insects that it has been under formal conservation since 2000. It falls under IUCN category IV, reserved for areas managed specifically to protect particular habitats or species.

Where is Mrzínov located?

The protected area sits on the eastern slope of a short valley, roughly 1.7 kilometers from the village of Vysoká, at an elevation between 238 and 260 meters above sea level. It borders the cadastral territory of the village of Bosyně, which lies within the Kokořínsko – Máchův kraj protected landscape area — a region of Central Bohemia best known for its sandstone rock formations and deep, forested gorges. Mrzínov is one of many small biodiversity refuges scattered across this landscape.

What makes this site special?

Mrzínov is best described as a steppe-like slope dotted with scattered fruit trees — a landscape type that has become increasingly rare across Central Europe. The dry, warm, sun-exposed terrain favors xerothermic vegetation: plant communities adapted to hot and arid conditions. For most of the 20th century the land was used agriculturally, first as cropland and later as pasture. Once active farming stopped in the second half of the century, the slope began gradually overgrowing with shrubs, threatening the open character the steppe vegetation depends on. Since 2010, seven beehives have been placed within the reserve, with bees supporting the natural pollination of the site's rare plants and helping maintain the balance of this fragile ecosystem.

Which plants and animals live here?

The vegetation at Mrzínov is dominated by dry grasses, most notably blue moor-grass (Sesleria caerulea). The site is home to several legally protected species, including the cross gentian (Gentiana cruciata), yellow flax (Linum flavum), and Bologna bellflower (Campanula bononiensis). The undergrowth also includes cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias), common juniper, meadow sage, and field woodruff.

This plant community forms the food base for two particularly threatened butterfly and moth species. The first, Rebel's large blue (Modrásek hořcový Rebelův), is critically endangered and depends almost entirely on the presence of cross gentian, on which females lay their eggs. The second, the spurge hawk-moth (lišaj pryšcový), feeds on the leaves of cypress spurge. The presence of both insects gives Mrzínov an ecological significance far beyond its tiny footprint. A severely endangered reptile, the smooth snake (užovka hladká) — a non-venomous species typical of dry, sun-exposed habitats — has also been recorded within the reserve.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mrzínov accessible to visitors? As a small nature monument, Mrzínov has no dedicated tourist infrastructure, but it lies within the Kokořínsko – Máchův kraj region, a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers exploring Central Bohemia.

What sets Mrzínov apart from other protected sites in the region? Unlike the sandstone rock formations the surrounding area is famous for, Mrzínov protects a dry, steppe-like habitat with a distinctive xerothermic flora and fauna rarely found elsewhere in this part of the Czech Republic.

Who manages this protected area? The site is administered by the authority of the Kokořínsko – Máchův kraj protected landscape area, which oversees species monitoring and the maintenance of the slope's open character.