About this place
Pod Ostrohem is a small nature monument in the Šumava (Bohemian Forest) region, in the Prachatice District of the South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic. It lies just north of the village of Horní Vltavice and south of Kubova Huť, at an elevation between 850 and 910 meters above sea level. Despite covering only 12.10 hectares, the site protects a habitat of considerable ecological importance: one of the highest-elevation sites in the country where common reed (Phragmites australis) grows and reproduces generatively, meaning it produces seeds rather than spreading only through rhizomes.
Where exactly is Pod Ostrohem located?
The protected area covers the lower part of a slope descending toward the east and southeast, running along the right bank of the Kubohuťský stream. Its upper boundary is marked by highway I/4, which connects Horní Vltavice and Kubova Huť. The site sits at approximately 48°58'20"N, 13°45'47"E and falls under the administration of the Šumava National Park and Protected Landscape Area Administration (Správa NP a CHKO Šumava) — a reflection of its location within one of the most ecologically valuable regions of the Czech Republic.
When and why was it protected?
The area was declared a natural monument (přírodní památka) on July 1, 2002. Under the IUCN classification system it falls into Category IV, designating areas managed primarily for the conservation of specific habitats or species. The main reason for protection is the presence of the highest-known site of generatively reproducing common reed in the region — a notable phenomenon at this elevation, where climatic conditions usually limit plants to vegetative reproduction only. Protection also extends to bird species associated with wetlands, as well as naturally developing wetland plant communities and the drier surrounding habitats found on formerly cultivated agricultural land.
What can visitors see there?
The landscape at Pod Ostrohem is a mosaic of wetlands, reed beds, and damp meadows, bordered by patches of former fields and pastures gradually being reclaimed by natural vegetation. The proximity of the Kubohuťský stream keeps soil moisture levels high, favoring the growth of characteristic marshland plants. Habitats of this kind provide valuable breeding and feeding grounds for wetland-associated bird species, though the available source material does not specify which particular species occur here.
Is it worth visiting?
Pod Ostrohem is not a conventional tourist attraction with visitor infrastructure or marked educational trails — it exists primarily as a scientifically significant conservation site. For nature enthusiasts and those interested in botany, however, it makes an interesting stop while hiking around Horní Vltavice, offering a glimpse of what a wetland ecosystem looks like in the higher reaches of the Šumava and how former farmland gradually returns to a natural state. Because of its protected status, visitors should tread carefully and stay off any unmarked ground to avoid disturbing the delicate balance of this small but unique habitat.
Frequently asked questions
What is Pod Ostrohem? It is a nature monument (přírodní památka) in the Šumava region that protects wetlands and the highest-elevation known site of generatively reproducing common reed.
Where is it located? Between the villages of Horní Vltavice and Kubova Huť, in the Prachatice District, at an elevation of 850–910 meters above sea level.
When was it protected? The protection status was granted on July 1, 2002.
How large is the area? The nature monument covers 12.10 hectares.
Who manages the site? The Šumava National Park and Protected Landscape Area Administration.
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