About this place
Na Volešku is a small but ecologically valuable nature reserve in the Šumava region, protecting a well-preserved wetland with rare flora. It lies in the Plzeň Region, in the Klatovy district, east of the village of Věštín and roughly 1.5 km northeast of Strašín. Most of the reserve falls within the cadastral area of Soběšice u Sušice, with a small portion extending into the cadastral territory of Nahořánky.
When was the reserve established?
The area received protected status on January 1, 1989, by decision of the former District National Committee of Klatovy. Today it is managed by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR) and is listed in the national register under number 1084. Under the IUCN classification system, it falls into category IV, meaning a habitat and species management area.
How large is the reserve and at what elevation does it lie?
The protected area covers 5.27 hectares, sitting at an elevation between 642 and 650 meters above sea level. The Novosedelský stream runs through the territory, originating roughly 500 meters higher up, below the settlement of Obnoží. It is this watercourse, and the steady moisture it provides to the ground, that has allowed a valuable peat wetland to develop here.
What plants grow in the reserve?
Na Volešku is above all a haven for orchid enthusiasts. Species found here include marsh helleborine, fragrant orchid, early marsh orchid, and Fuchs's early-purple orchid. In 2005, botanists discovered a rare population of Traunsteiner's orchid on the site — a species found at only a handful of locations across the Czech Republic.
Beyond orchids, the reserve supports rare sedges such as Davall's sedge, panicled sedge, and flea sedge, along with broad-leaved cottongrass, bogbean, and rosemary willow. A less widely known plant, willemetia, also grows within the protected area.
What animal life can be found here?
The damp meadows and peatland create favorable conditions for insects tied to wetland habitats. Among the notable species is the Alcon blue butterfly, whose life cycle depends closely on the presence of great burnet, a plant typical of this kind of terrain.
Why is this area protected?
The main purpose of the reserve is to preserve a well-conserved wetland of high botanical value. Habitats of this type have become increasingly scarce across the Czech Republic due to the draining of wetlands and changes in agricultural land use, which makes small enclaves like Na Volešku important for maintaining biodiversity in the Šumava region.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is the Na Volešku reserve located? In the Klatovy district, east of the village of Věštín and about 1.5 km northeast of Strašín, within the cadastral area of Soběšice u Sušice.
Since when has the area been protected? Since January 1, 1989.
How large is the reserve? 5.27 hectares.
What is the reserve's biggest natural draw? Its rich population of rare orchids, including the Traunsteiner's orchid discovered in 2005.
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