Památník profesora Pelíška

The Professor Pelíšek Memorial (Památník profesora Pelíška) is a small scientific-commemorative monument near Habrůvka in Moravia, dedicated to a leading researcher of forest soils. It stands in the heart of the Moravian Karst, among woodlands and limestone valleys the professor knew well from his own fieldwork.

Where is the memorial located?

The memorial sits in the valley of the Křtinský Stream, near the springs of the Jedovnický Stream, in an area known as the Padouch valley (also called Wiehl's valley), on land belonging to the municipality of Habrůvka, right at the edge of the Habrůvecká bučina nature reserve. The site lies at an elevation of roughly 330 meters above sea level, and a blue-marked hiking trail passes directly by it, making it an easy addition to a longer walk through the Moravian Karst, close to the region's well-known caves.

Who was Professor Josef Pelíšek?

Prof. Dr. Ing. Josef Pelíšek, DrSc. (1909–1993) was a professor of geology and forest soil science (pedology) at the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology of Mendel University in Brno. He was regarded as a significant pedologist and an educator of generations of foresters and soil scientists. His research focused on areas such as the Moravian Karst, where the limestone bedrock and karst processes shape forest soils in distinctive ways.

What does the memorial look like, and what is it made of?

The memorial is built from multicolored stone slabs. The main inscribed stone is Mrákotín granite, accompanied by granite from the Šluknov Peninsula, Liberec granite, and a slab of gabbro from central Bohemia. This deliberate mix of stone types echoes the geological diversity that Pelíšek studied throughout his career. The design was created by Prof. Ivan Otruba, and the memorial was unveiled in 2001 during the Pedological Days event held in Brno.

Why was the memorial placed here?

The Professor Pelíšek Memorial forms part of the so-called Lesnický Slavín, a memorial complex dedicated to notable figures in forestry and forest science. Its location in the Moravian Karst is far from arbitrary: the karst valleys and beech forests of this area served as a natural laboratory for Pelíšek's research into forest soils. The proximity of the Habrůvecká bučina reserve, which protects old-growth beech stands, reinforces the memorial's connection to forestry and natural science themes.

What should visitors know before going?

Given its modest scale and location away from the main tourist routes, the memorial is visited mainly by people interested in the history of forest science, as well as hikers following the blue-marked trail through the area around Habrůvka. It pairs well with a visit to other attractions of the Moravian Karst — the caves and karst valleys found in the immediate vicinity.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Professor Pelíšek, the memorial's namesake? Prof. Dr. Ing. Josef Pelíšek, DrSc. (1909–1993) was a professor of geology and forest soil science at Mendel University in Brno, regarded as a significant pedologist and educator of foresters.

When was the memorial unveiled? It was unveiled in 2001, during the Pedological Days event held in Brno.

What materials is the memorial made of? It consists of multicolored stone slabs: the main inscribed stone is Mrákotín granite, joined by granite from the Šluknov Peninsula, Liberec granite, and a gabbro slab from central Bohemia.

Where exactly does the memorial stand? In the valley of the Křtinský Stream, near the springs of the Jedovnický Stream (the Padouch/Wiehl valley), on land belonging to Habrůvka, at the edge of the Habrůvecká bučina reserve, at about 330 meters above sea level.

How can visitors reach the memorial? A blue-marked hiking trail passes directly by the site, allowing it to be combined with a longer walking route through the Moravian Karst.