Mionší forest

Mionší National Nature Reserve is one of the oldest and most valuable protected areas in the Czech part of the Moravian-Silesian Beskids. The reserve lies in the Moravian-Silesian Region, in the Frýdek-Místek district, between the villages of Dolní Lomná and Horní Lomná. It sits within the boundaries of the larger CHKO Beskydy protected landscape area, meaning the site benefits from an additional layer of landscape-level protection surrounding the reserve itself.

Where exactly is Mionší located?

The reserve covers the ridge of the Mionší range together with the areas known as Velká Polana and Úplaz. The terrain rises from 720 to 949 metres above sea level, which is a typical elevation range for the central part of the Moravian-Silesian Beskids – a mountain range running along the Czech-Slovak border and forming part of the wider Western Carpathian chain. The total area of the reserve is 169.7 hectares.

How long has this land been protected?

Mionší stands out for its unusually long tradition of nature protection in the region. The area first received legal protection back in 1933 – well before the Second World War, at a time when formal nature conservation in Central Europe was still taking shape. It has existed in its current form, as a national nature reserve, since 1954. This continuity of protection, spanning nearly a century with interruptions, makes Mionší one of the reference points in the history of Czech mountain nature conservation.

What should visitors know before coming here?

As a national nature reserve, Mionší is subject to strict protection rules typical of this, the highest category of area-based nature protection in the Czech Republic – the site is treated as a valuable fragment of mountain nature, warranting special protection because of its natural and landscape value. Its location between Dolní Lomná and Horní Lomná makes the reserve a useful point of reference for anyone travelling through this part of the Moravian-Silesian Beskids, since both villages serve as natural landmarks when planning a route through the area.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Mionší National Nature Reserve located? The reserve is located in the Czech Republic, in the Moravian-Silesian Region, Frýdek-Místek district, between the villages of Dolní Lomná and Horní Lomná, within the Moravian-Silesian Beskids.

How large is the reserve and at what elevation does it lie? Mionší covers 169.7 hectares and spans elevations from 720 to 949 metres above sea level, including the ridge of the Mionší range, Velká Polana and Úplaz.

Since when has the area been protected? The site first received legal protection in 1933. It has existed in its present form as a national nature reserve since 1954.

Is the reserve part of a larger protected area? Yes, Mionší lies within the boundaries of CHKO Beskydy, the Czech protected landscape area covering the Moravian-Silesian Beskids and the surrounding region.

What landmarks help locate the reserve? The closest reference points are the villages of Dolní Lomná and Horní Lomná, between which the protected area extends.