Pulčín - Hradisko

The Pulčín-Hradisko National Nature Reserve is one of the most distinctive rock reserves in the Czech Beskids, located at the south-eastern edge of the Javorníky mountain range, in the Zlín Region, in the Vsetín District, close to the village of Francova Lhota. The reserve covers Hradisko hill together with an extensive complex of rock outcrops, and it lies within the boundaries of the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Beskydy), one of the largest protected areas in the Czech Republic. The reserve spans 72.73 hectares, with elevations within its boundaries ranging from 510 to 773 metres above sea level — a considerable span that reflects the clearly mountainous character of the terrain.

Where is the Pulčín-Hradisko reserve located?

The reserve lies in the Zlín Region, within the Vsetín District, directly adjacent to the village of Francova Lhota. Geographically, the area belongs to the Javorníky range, specifically its south-eastern edge, where Hradisko hill rises. The site's approximate geographic coordinates are 49.233° N, 18.076° E. This location places the reserve at the boundary between the distinctly mountainous terrain of the Beskids and the gentler foothill landscape surrounding it, which helps explain the wealth of rock formations found here.

What is CHKO Beskydy and how does this reserve fit into it?

The Pulčín-Hradisko National Nature Reserve operates within the boundaries of the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Beskydy). This status means the area benefits from an additional, elevated level of protection within the broader network of protected areas covering a significant part of the Czech Beskids. The reserve's inclusion within CHKO Beskydy confirms that the land around Hradisko was recognised as valuable enough, in both natural and landscape terms, to merit a designation going beyond the standard forest or landscape protection that applies across the wider protected area.

What is the history behind the reserve's creation?

The reserve was formally established on 19 January 1989. This date places it among protected areas designated in Czechoslovakia shortly before the political transformation of the country, which indicates that the natural value of this site had already been recognised and formally confirmed by nature conservation authorities several decades ago. Since then, the area has remained one of the permanent components of the nature protection system in the Beskids region.

What is the size and terrain of the reserve?

The reserve covers an area of 72.73 hectares. The key landscape feature is Hradisko hill, surrounded by an extensive complex of rock outcrops — places where rock layers are exposed at the surface, forming characteristic formations. The elevation range within the reserve, from 510 to 773 metres above sea level, shows that the terrain has a distinctly mountainous character, with a notable difference between the lowest and highest points of the protected area.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Pulčín-Hradisko reserve located? In the Czech Republic, in the Zlín Region, Vsetín District, near the village of Francova Lhota, at the south-eastern edge of the Javorníky range.

How large is the reserve? It covers an area of 72.73 hectares.

What elevations does the reserve's territory cover? Elevations within the reserve range from 510 to 773 metres above sea level.

When was the reserve established? It was formally created on 19 January 1989.

Is the reserve part of a larger protected area? Yes, it lies within the boundaries of the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Beskydy).

What is the main landscape feature of the reserve? Hradisko hill together with its complex of rock outcrops, which give the site the distinctive rocky character typical of this part of the Beskids.