About this place
Mutenská obora is a nature reserve located within the cadastral territory of the village of Mutná, near Cizkrajov, in the Jindřichův Hradec district of the South Bohemian Region in the Czech Republic. The protected area covers 44 hectares and stretches across the slopes and summit of Dubová hill (538 metres above sea level), which rises above the valley of the Moravian Dyje (Moravská Dyje) river. A 20-hectare portion of the reserve remains fenced, a reminder of the site's earlier use as a game enclosure — the Czech word "obora" itself means deer park or game preserve.
Why was the area protected?
The reserve was established to preserve and gradually restore fragments of natural and near-natural mixed and deciduous woodland. The dominant habitat is lime-oak forest with rich understorey flora, growing at the westernmost edge of its range — this stretch of countryside between the Podyjí region and the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands marks the boundary beyond which this particular forest type no longer occurs. That makes Mutenská obora significant not just locally, but biogeographically, as one of the last places where this forest community survives in this part of the country.
What natural value does the reserve hold?
The forest stand functions as a genetic reservoir for lime and ash trees, species that have been pushed out of many neighbouring areas by coniferous monocultures. The richness and diversity of the vegetation across the whole complex is considered irreplaceable for sustaining other groups of organisms tied to this habitat, including birds, insects and fungi. The site is managed by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (Agentura ochrany přírody a krajiny České republiky), which oversees the condition of the habitats and works to gradually reduce the lingering influence of the former hunting-ground management on the forest's structure.
What should visitors know before coming?
Mutenská obora sits in a quiet, sparsely populated stretch of the Czech-Moravian borderland, away from the busiest tourist routes, which makes it an appealing destination for anyone looking for less disturbed nature. Its proximity to Cizkrajov and to the Moravian Dyje valley means a visit here can easily be combined with exploring other natural attractions in the Vysočina and Podyjí regions. As with any protected nature reserve, visitors are expected to keep to marked paths and take care not to disturb the wildlife and plant life found within its boundaries.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is Mutenská obora located? The reserve lies within the cadastral territory of the village of Mutná near Cizkrajov, in the Jindřichův Hradec district, on the slopes of Dubová hill above the Moravian Dyje valley.
How large is the protected area? The reserve covers 44 hectares, of which 20 hectares are fenced.
What is being protected here? Natural and near-natural lime-oak forest stands with rich flora, marking the westernmost edge of this forest type's range between Podyjí and the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.
Who manages the reserve? The Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR).
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