Pod Šipínem

Pod Šipínem is a protected natural monument covering a stretch of the Úterský stream valley near the village of Okrouhlé Hradiště, part of the municipality of Konstantinovy Lázně in the Tachov district of the Plzeň Region. The site sits just above the point where the Hadovka creek flows into the Úterský potok, where the river valley narrows into a distinctive gorge-like passage.

Where exactly is Pod Šipínem?

The natural monument lies within the cadastral territory of Okrouhlé Hradiště, a village roughly two kilometers southeast of Konstantinovy Lázně. Its coordinates are approximately 49.8586 N, 13.0316 E. At this point the Úterský stream cuts into the surrounding hills, forming a natural boundary between farmland and forested slopes.

When did the area become protected?

The site was first designated as a protected area in 1965, with its protected status reconfirmed in 1987. This two-stage protection history is typical of many smaller Czech nature reserves, whose boundaries and legal justification were revisited as environmental protection legislation evolved during the second half of the 20th century.

What makes this stretch of the valley notable?

The closest landmark is the Šipín hillfort, an early medieval fortified settlement built on a spur above the Úterský potok, at an elevation of about 435 meters above sea level. Archaeological research, which began after ceramics were found at the site in 1935, points to occupation between the 10th and 13th centuries, while fragments of Late Bronze Age pottery found on the adjacent slopes suggest the location may have been inhabited considerably earlier. The fortified area covers about 1.5 hectares, and its more exposed eastern side was once protected by a ditch and a double defensive wall — an 8-meter stretch of the first wall survives today, standing 3 to 4 meters high on its outer face. The Šipín hillfort was listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic in 2006. A small village called Šipín, home to the Church of Saint Barbara, now occupies part of the former hillfort site.

Is the area worth visiting on foot or by bike?

Several hiking trails pass through the Šipín area and the Úterský stream valley, along with cycle route number 2206, making the location a convenient stop for anyone combining a look at the valley's natural scenery with the early medieval settlement history of the Tachov region. With its steep, forested slopes and the confluence of two watercourses, the valley shares the typical character of smaller river valleys in western Bohemia — functioning both as an ecological corridor and as a natural terrain barrier that has shaped settlement patterns in the area for centuries.

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Pod Šipínem mean? The name refers to the protected area's position below the hill and settlement of Šipín, where the former hillfort is located.

Are the nature monument and the Šipín hillfort the same site? No — the Pod Šipínem nature monument protects a section of the stream valley, while the Šipín hillfort is a separate, neighboring archaeological site and cultural monument, listed in the heritage register in 2006.

Which municipality does the area belong to? Administratively, the site lies within the cadastral territory of Okrouhlé Hradiště, part of the municipality of Konstantinovy Lázně in the Tachov district.

When was the area given legal protection? It was first protected in 1965, with its status renewed in 1987.