Na Adamcích

Na Adamcích is a national nature monument in South Moravia, Czech Republic, situated in the cadastral territory of Želetice, between the villages of Želetice and Nenkovice. The protected area covers the slopes of Homole hill (273 m above sea level), at an elevation of roughly 210–250 m, spanning approximately 7.5 hectares of core protected land within a wider designated area. It was declared a national nature monument on 29 December 1972 to safeguard one of the region's most valuable steppe grassland ecosystems.

What makes this place ecologically unusual?

The reserve's steep slopes, in places reaching an incline of up to 45 degrees, form a natural amphitheater with a distinctive microclimate. Average annual temperatures here exceed 9°C, while annual rainfall is relatively low, around 500 mm. These warm, dry conditions create habitat conditions reminiscent of Mediterranean scrubland or Russian steppe — an ecological rarity within the Central European landscape.

The underlying bedrock consists of calcareous rock from the Ždánice Flysch formation, which has given rise to a strongly undulating relief covered in Sub-Pannonian steppe grasslands.

What plant and animal life can be found here?

The monument protects communities of narrow-leaved and broad-leaved dry grasslands (belonging to the Festucion valesiacae and Bromion erecti alliances, respectively). Among the standout plant species are the purple viper's bugloss (Echium maculatum) and the garland flower (Daphne cneorum), alongside orchids such as the military orchid (Orchis militaris) and the burnt-tip orchid (Orchis ustulata).

The animal life is equally rich. The reserve is home to more than 250 butterfly species and around 50 beetle species. Notable inhabitants include the Damon blue butterfly (Polyommatus damon), the European praying mantis (Mantis religiosa), and the cicada species Cicadetta montana. Protected bird species also nest here, including the corn bunting (Miliaria calandra), for which these open, dry grasslands provide essential breeding habitat.

How has the land been used historically?

For centuries, the area served as pastureland for cattle grazing. Regular grazing, mowing, and occasional controlled burning kept the landscape open, allowing steppe species to thrive that would otherwise be crowded out by encroaching woodland and scrub. Today, careful management of this inherited land-use pattern — through conservation-guided grazing or mowing — remains essential to preserving the site's unique biodiversity.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Na Adamcích monument located? It lies in the South Moravian Region, within the cadastral area of Želetice, between the villages of Želetice and Nenkovice, on the slopes of Homole hill.

When was the reserve established? The area was declared a national nature monument on 29 December 1972.

What can visitors see in the reserve? Distinctive steppe grasslands, rare plants such as the garland flower and several orchid species, and a rich invertebrate fauna including butterflies and praying mantises, along with protected bird species.

Why does this site have such an atypical climate for Central Europe? The sun-exposed, steep, calcareous slopes create a warm, dry microclimate resembling Mediterranean or steppe conditions, allowing species rare elsewhere on the continent to survive here.