Prameniště Blatovského potoka

Prameniště Blatovského potoka (the Blatovský Brook Spring Area) is a small but ecologically valuable nature reserve on the eastern edge of Prague, tucked into the western part of Klánovice Forest within the cadastral territory of Klánovice. Covering roughly 5 hectares, it was declared a natural monument in 2009, becoming the 89th specially protected area within the city limits.

Where the name comes from

The reserve takes its name from the Blatovský Brook, a modest watercourse only about 2 kilometers long with a catchment area of around 6.5 square kilometers. The brook rises from two springs southwest of Klánovice and flows south, eventually joining the Běchovický Brook near Újezd nad Lesy. The spring area itself — the wetland where the brook begins — is the heart of the reserve and the reason it received protected status.

What makes it worth protecting

The main natural value of the site lies in its distinctive spring-area habitat: an oligotrophic, waterlogged birch forest with dense growths of sphagnum peat mosses. Habitats like this are uncommon within a city, and their damp, acidic conditions support rare species of invertebrates and fungi that would struggle to survive in the drier, more disturbed stretches of the surrounding Klánovice Forest. It is precisely this combination of standing moisture, peat moss cover, and specialized invertebrate fauna that justified granting the area protected status.

Klánovice Forest, in which the reserve sits, is itself one of the larger continuous forest complexes within Prague, and the presence of such a boggy enclave highlights the ecological diversity of the area as a whole — ranging from drier pine-oak stands to the waterlogged spring depression described here.

Getting there and visiting

A blue-marked hiking trail numbered 1003 runs around the spring area, connecting Uhříněves and Klánovice. It offers a convenient way to pass near the reserve during a longer walk through Klánovice Forest without entering the protected area directly — as with most small nature reserves, wandering off the marked paths is discouraged, since it risks damaging the sensitive peatland habitat.

The site makes for an interesting stop for anyone looking for a quiet, low-key encounter with nature close to a major city, away from the crowds typical of Prague's better-known attractions. It is also a worthwhile destination for nature lovers and nature photographers curious about the region's less commonly visited forest-wetland ecosystems.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Prameniště Blatovského potoka located? In the western part of Klánovice Forest, within the cadastral territory of Klánovice, in eastern Prague.

How large is the protected area? Around 5 hectares.

Since when has the area been protected? It was declared a natural monument in 2009.

What can visitors see there? A waterlogged birch forest covered in sphagnum peat mosses, along with habitats for rare invertebrates and fungi tied to the brook's spring area.

How do you reach the reserve? The most convenient route is the blue-marked hiking trail number 1003, which runs between Uhříněves and Klánovice.