Pastvina u Zahorčic

Pastvina u Zahorčic is a small but ecologically valuable nature reserve in the Strakonice district, roughly 1.5 kilometres north of the village of Zahorčice, part of the municipality of Lnáře. It protects a wet, single-mown meadow spread across a slope that drops toward an unnamed tributary of the Smolivecký stream, preserving a classic example of species-rich meadow vegetation together with an unusually wide collection of moisture-loving plants.

What makes this reserve special?

The site's character comes from the combination of water seeping down the slope and centuries of light, traditional mowing management. It is precisely this ongoing cutting regime — not abandonment — that keeps the meadow's biodiversity intact. Left unmanaged, the reserve would quickly be overtaken by aggressive wood small-reed (Calamagrostis epigejos), which has already spread across the western part of the site and needs to be kept in check.

Which plants grow here?

The reserve is dominated by plant communities of the Molinion alliance, typical of nutrient-poor, waterlogged grassland. Among the notable species recorded here are betony (Stachys officinalis), low viper's-grass (Scorzonera humilis), marsh valerian (Valeriana dioica), hoary willow (Salix rosmarinifolia), and marsh gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe). The last of these is particularly significant, since marsh gentian has been retreating across much of Central Europe as traditionally mown wet meadows disappear.

What animals live in the reserve?

The fauna is just as noteworthy as the flora. Nesting birds include the meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis) and the whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), both species tightly bound to open, damp grassland and increasingly scarce across Europe's intensified farmland. Among invertebrates, the alcon blue butterfly (Maculinea alcon) has been documented laying eggs at the site — a species with a complex life cycle dependent on both marsh gentian and Myrmica ants, and a reliable indicator of high-quality habitat. Larger fauna recorded here includes the common toad (Bufo bufo), sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), slow worm (Anguis fragilis), and red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio), a bird of prey from the shrike family associated with mosaic landscapes of scrub and field margins.

Why is it worth a visit?

Pastvina u Zahorčic offers a compact, well-preserved slice of the traditional agricultural landscape of southern Bohemia, a landscape type that is disappearing across Europe year by year. For nature lovers, botanists, and birdwatchers, it is a place where an entire sequence of indicator species for high-quality wet meadows can be observed within a small area. The surrounding countryside near Lnáře and Zahorčice offers a quiet, rural setting in the South Bohemian Region, far from the main tourist routes.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the reserve located? About 1.5 km north of the village of Zahorčice, part of the municipality of Lnáře, in the Strakonice district of the South Bohemian Region.

Is it a large area? No — it is a small, localized meadow site rather than an extensive landscape park.

What does the reserve protect? A wet, single-mown meadow with Molinion alliance plant communities, along with the associated flora and fauna, including the rare alcon blue butterfly.

Can visitors walk freely through the site? As a protected area, the reserve calls for respecting nature conservation rules — it is best to stick to existing paths and avoid picking plants.

When is the best time to visit? Late spring and summer, when the meadow is in full bloom and the characteristic plant and insect species are easiest to spot.