Návrší (natural monument)

Návrší is a small nature reserve on the eastern edge of Bedřichovice, within the cadastral territory of the town of Šlapanice in the Brno-venkov district of Moravia. The protected area covers just 0.94 hectares, but it is surrounded by a 50-metre buffer zone along its entire perimeter, which reinforces its protection from disturbance in the surrounding landscape. The reserve sits at an elevation of 235 to 252 metres above sea level, on the hill that gave it its name – "návrší" simply means "hilltop" or "rise" in Czech.

Why was this site given protected status?

Návrší was designated a natural monument by an order of the South Moravian Region, which took effect on 1 March 2019. The reason for its protection is the presence of natural, warm-loving steppe communities interspersed with scattered woody plants, along with numerous significant plant and animal species. The underlying bedrock consists of Culm conglomerates, and it is on this rocky base that the area's distinctive dry, sun-exposed habitats have developed – habitats that favour thermophilous species rare elsewhere in this part of Moravia.

What role does Návrší play within the Natura 2000 network?

Návrší is not an isolated pocket of nature; it forms part of a broader system of small-scale, specially protected areas within the cadastral territory of Šlapanice. Nearby, in the same area, lie the reserves of Andělka a Čertovka and Velký hájek. Together, these sites have been incorporated into the European Natura 2000 network of protected areas as a site of European importance named "Šlapanické slepence" (the Šlapanice Conglomerates). The name refers directly to the characteristic rock type – conglomerate – that forms the hills in this part of the region and shapes its exceptional habitat conditions.

What else is worth knowing about the surrounding area?

Šlapanice, the town within whose administrative boundaries Návrší lies, is known for a history stretching back to the Middle Ages and for its proximity to the battlefield of Slavkov (Austerlitz). The surrounding countryside is rich in green spaces and smaller protected areas, making it an interesting destination for visitors curious about local nature, not only for those drawn by the historical tourism for which Šlapanice is better known. Warm-loving steppe communities like those protected at Návrší are relatively rare in Central European conditions and sensitive to changes in land use, which is why their preservation requires ongoing oversight and restrictions on how the surrounding land is managed.

Is Návrší accessible to visitors?

As a natural monument of modest size, Návrší does not offer the extensive tourist infrastructure typical of larger landscape parks. Protected areas of this kind in the Czech Republic are generally accessible on foot, provided visitors respect nature conservation rules and the habitats of the protected species found there. It is worth keeping in mind that the primary purpose of establishing such reserves is to preserve unique plant and animal communities, rather than to create a tourist attraction in the conventional sense.

Frequently asked questions

How large is the protected area of Návrší? The reserve covers 0.94 hectares, with an additional 50-metre buffer zone surrounding its entire perimeter.

When did Návrší receive legal protection? It was granted natural monument status by an order of the South Moravian Region, which took effect on 1 March 2019.

What does this natural monument protect? Natural, warm-loving steppe communities growing on Culm conglomerate bedrock, together with scattered woody plants and numerous significant plant and animal species.

Is Návrší part of a larger protected area? Yes, together with the nearby reserves of Andělka a Čertovka and Velký hájek, it forms part of the Natura 2000 site known as "Šlapanické slepence".