Skalická Morávka

The Skalická Morávka National Natural Monument is a protected area in the Czech Republic, located in the Moravian-Silesian Region, within the Frýdek-Místek district. It covers a stretch of the Morávka River valley and was established in 2006. For visitors exploring the Polish-Czech borderlands, it's a somewhat unusual case: rather than a single natural feature, what's protected here is an entire multi-kilometre section of a river together with the landscape around it.

Where exactly is this protected area located?

The site follows the course of the Morávka River, beginning 5.47 km downstream from the village of Raszkowice. From there, the boundaries of the natural monument run further down the river, passing through the areas of Ligota Górna, Ligota Dolna and Nošovice, before reaching the stretch between Dobrá and Skalice — at the 10.6 km mark of the river's course. The area's coordinates are approximately 49.6415 N, 18.4361 E, placing it in the central part of the Moravian-Silesian Region, an area known for its rolling, foothill landscape.

How large is the protected area?

The Skalická Morávka National Natural Monument covers 101.98 hectares. Spread across more than five kilometres of river valley, this area indicates that protection extends beyond the riverbed itself to include the surrounding land — meadows, tree stands and other landscape features that naturally accompany a free-flowing river.

Why was this particular stretch of the Morávka protected?

The very fact that a specific, defined section of the river's course was placed under legal protection — rather than a single point feature such as a boulder or an individual tree — suggests that the value of this place lies in the character of the whole watercourse: its route through several villages, the natural dynamics of the riverbed, and the valley landscape that accompanies it. The category "national natural monument" in the Czech system of nature protection is reserved for areas and features of significance to the country as a whole, which sets it apart from lower-tier forms of protection established at a regional level.

Which villages border the protected area?

The route of the protected river stretch passes through several villages in the Frýdek-Místek district: starting near Raszkowice, continuing through Ligota Górna and Ligota Dolna, then Nošovice, and ending between Dobrá and Skalice. For anyone planning a visit, this means the natural monument can be observed from several different points as the river flows successively through these settlements.

When was this protected area created?

The Skalická Morávka National Natural Monument was established in 2006. This places it among the more recently created forms of nature protection in the region, dating from a period when Czech environmental law already operated within the framework of the European Union.

Frequently asked questions

How large is the Skalická Morávka National Natural Monument? It covers 101.98 hectares and extends along 10.6 km of the Morávka River's course.

Where does the protected river stretch begin and end? It begins 5.47 km downstream from Raszkowice and ends between the villages of Dobrá and Skalice.

In which region is this natural monument located? In the Moravian-Silesian Region, Frýdek-Místek district, Czech Republic.

When was protection of this area established? In 2006.

Which villages does the protected stretch of the Morávka pass through? Ligota Górna, Ligota Dolna and Nošovice, between Raszkowice and the stretch between Dobrá and Skalice.