Návesník

Návesník is a small nature reserve located about one kilometer west of the village of Vortová, within the Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area in the Chrudim district of the Pardubice Region. The protected site centers on the Návesník pond and the preserved peat meadow surrounding it, home to plant and animal species that are rare within this part of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.

What is Návesník?

Návesník is one of three natural monuments located right next to Vortová, alongside Zlámanec to the south and Utopenec to the north. All three formed around small village ponds typical of this stretch of the Žďárské vrchy, where a network of modest water bodies has shaped the local landscape for centuries. Návesník was declared a protected natural monument on December 1, 1990, and is classified under IUCN category IV — a habitat and species management area.

What can visitors see on site?

The centerpiece of the reserve is the Návesník pond, framed by a well-preserved peat meadow. This combination of shallow open water and wet meadow creates conditions that support species considered rare on a regional scale. The site is modest in size and intimate in character rather than a sprawling reserve — a small but ecologically valuable patch tucked among the farmland and forests surrounding Vortová.

How do you get to the natural monument?

The easiest way to reach Návesník is on foot from Vortová. The walk is roughly one kilometer westward along an unmarked field path that runs beside the local agricultural cooperative's land. No special preparation is needed, and the visit pairs naturally with the two other natural monuments nearby, Zlámanec and Utopenec, forming a short loop around the village.

What region are Vortová and Návesník part of?

Vortová is a small submontane village set in the valley of the Vortovský stream, surrounded by dense forest, south of the town of Hlinsko and northeast of Krucemburk. The entire area lies within the Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area, one of the ecologically richest regions in the Czech Republic, known for its mix of forests, meadows, peat bogs, and small ponds. Within easy reach for a day trip is also the Hamry water reservoir, built between 1906 and 1912 — one of the first embankment dams in Bohemia — offering an additional destination for anyone exploring this part of the highlands.

Frequently asked questions

What is Návesník? It is a natural monument protecting a pond and its surrounding peat meadow, home to rare plant and animal species.

Where exactly is it located? About one kilometer west of the village of Vortová, within the Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area in the Pardubice Region.

When was it protected? It was declared a natural monument on December 1, 1990, classified as an IUCN category IV habitat management area.

Is it easy to visit? Yes — an unmarked field path leads there from Vortová, and the walk can be combined with visiting the nearby natural monuments Zlámanec and Utopenec.

What else is worth seeing nearby? The village of Vortová itself and the Hamry water reservoir, one of the oldest embankment dams in the Czech Republic.