Natural monument Louky u Černého lesa

Louky u Černého lesa (Meadows by the Black Forest) is a small but ecologically valuable nature monument in the Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area, in the Žďár nad Sázavou district, right next to the village of Vysoké. Sitting at around 570 metres above sea level, the site covers just 10.63 hectares — a modest size that belies the density and rarity of the habitats packed into it.

What makes up this protected area?

The heart of the site is a valley floor threaded by the meandering Strženský stream. Along its course and around the edges of the Konventský pond, the landscape opens into wet meadows, low-lying peat bogs, and alder carr woodland. This mosaic — from waterlogged peat meadows through alder thickets to pondside vegetation — creates a habitat type rarely found in such a concentrated area, which is exactly why the site was placed under protection back in 1988.

Why was this area protected?

The nature monument was established to preserve a scientifically valuable landscape supporting protected and endangered plant and animal species, together with notable rock formations in the surrounding terrain. The peat meadows of the valley floor, the alder groves, and the wetland fringe of the pond together form a refuge for organisms that have become increasingly hard to find elsewhere in the more intensively farmed parts of the Vysočina region.

What wildlife lives here?

Louky u Černého lesa is best known for its amphibians. Brown frogs, green frogs, and common toads are the most abundant species, well suited to the site's damp meadows and pond margins. Less frequently, but still on a regular basis, visitors may also encounter green toads, alpine newts, and European tree frogs. Such a diverse amphibian community within a relatively small area is a strong indicator of the good ecological condition of the wetlands and surface waters here.

What conservation status does the site hold?

The area lies fully within the Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area, and since 2005 most of the nature monument, together with its buffer zone — which includes the Konventský pond and the wetlands along its northern shore — has also formed part of the Natura 2000 network as a Site of Community Importance. The territory is managed by the Nature and Landscape Protection Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR), through its regional office responsible for administering the Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area.

How to visit and what to expect

Louky u Černého lesa sits right beside the village of Vysoké, within the gently rolling countryside of the Žďárské vrchy — a region known for its ponds, peat bogs, and spruce-beech forests. This is a destination for nature-focused visitors rather than a spot for heavy tourist infrastructure: there are few facilities on site, and the main appeal is the chance to observe rare wetland habitats and their inhabitants in a quiet, largely unspoiled setting. Spring and early summer are the best times to visit, when amphibian activity peaks and the peat meadows display the vegetation characteristic of this habitat type.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Louky u Černého lesa located? In the Žďár nad Sázavou district, next to the village of Vysoké, within the Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area.

How large is the protected area? The nature monument covers 10.63 hectares.

Since when has the area been protected? It has held protected status since 1988, and part of the site has also belonged to the Natura 2000 network since 2005.

What species can be seen here? Mainly amphibians — brown frogs, green frogs, and common toads, with green toads, alpine newts, and tree frogs appearing less often.

Who manages the site? The Nature and Landscape Protection Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR), as part of the administration of the Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area.