Pastvina u Přešťovic

Pastvina u Přešťovic is a small nature monument in the Strakonice district of southern Bohemia, Czech Republic, lying west of the village of Přešťovice, roughly 2 km east of the town of Strakonice, close to the road leading toward Prague. The protected area covers a modest 1.3 hectares, yet it preserves one of the region's more distinctive natural features — an abandoned pasture developed on limestone bedrock.

Why was the site protected?

The area was declared a protected nature monument in 1985 specifically because of its rich, heat-loving flora, which developed on the shallow, lime-rich soils typical of this kind of terrain. This is a relatively uncommon habitat type in this part of the Czech Republic: xerothermic grassland, a plant community adapted to dry, sun-exposed, nutrient-poor ground. The site hosts numerous lime-loving plant species, including gentian and other flora characteristic of calcareous grasslands, some of which are legally protected as endangered species.

Since 2009, the location has also carried European-level protection as a Site of Community Importance under the Natura 2000 network, underlining its ecological significance beyond national borders.

What else is there to see?

Alongside the meadow itself, the protected area still contains the remnants of small, historical limestone quarries. These former workings explain the unusual bedrock underlying today's vegetation — past quarrying exposed rock layers that, over time, weathered into the thin, poor soils favoring heat-tolerant plant species rather than the lush growth typical of more fertile meadows.

How to get there

The reserve can be reached from the road connecting Přešťovice with Strakonice, along its northern edge. It makes for a convenient stop for anyone exploring the Strakonice area on foot or by bicycle — the site itself requires no long trek, and a walk around the grassland reveals both its flora and the traces of former limestone extraction.

Roughly one kilometer away lies another protected site, the national nature monument Rovná. Given their proximity, the two locations are easy to combine into a single outing focused on the natural landmarks of the Strakonice region.

Frequently asked questions

How large is the protected area of Pastvina u Přešťovic? It covers 1.3 hectares.

When was the site placed under protection? In 1985, due to its valuable heat-loving grassland flora growing on limestone ground.

Does the site have any additional international protection status? Yes, since 2009 it has been part of the Natura 2000 network as a Site of Community Importance.

What can be seen here besides the vegetation? The remains of small, historical limestone quarries, which shaped the site's present-day terrain and soil.

What is the easiest way to reach the reserve? Via the road running from Přešťovice to Strakonice, along the protected area's northern boundary.