Prosenka

Prosenka is a small nature reserve set on a steep, rocky and grassy slope above the Jihlava River valley, near the village of Vržanov in the Kamenice municipality, Jihlava District, in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. Facing south to southwest, the slope sits at an elevation of 550–570 metres above sea level. The site was formally declared a protected area on 7 May 1999, having already functioned as a small-scale nature reserve from 1998 onward. Under the IUCN international classification system, Prosenka falls into Category IV — Habitat/Species Management Area.

Why is this place protected?

The reserve owes its protected status to grassland and herb communities that developed on former extensively grazed pastures. Dry to moderately moist meadows of this kind, typical of rocky slopes above river valleys, have become increasingly rare across the Czech landscape — their survival depends on continued traditional management rather than being left untouched. The site is also home to a strongly endangered taxon, whose presence was a key argument for granting the area legal protection.

What lives in Prosenka?

Entomological and arachnological surveys carried out in 2009–2010 revealed an unusually rich diversity of species for such a small area. Researchers recorded a total of 241 species across the monitored insect and spider groups, including 143 species of beetles, 31 species of butterflies, 5 species of antlions and their relatives (order Neuroptera), and 62 species of spiders. This diversity is a direct result of the specific microclimate created by the sun-exposed rocky slope, combined with the mosaic of grassland and herbaceous vegetation that has developed on the former pasture land.

How is the reserve managed today?

Because dry meadows and pastures degrade without regular use — becoming overgrown with shrubs and trees and losing their open, grassy character — a restoration project was carried out at Prosenka between 2020 and 2022. It included the removal of encroaching woody plants that had begun colonising the former pastures, mowing, raking of the cut biomass, and sheep grazing intended to replicate the traditional grazing practices once used on this land. These measures aim to recreate the conditions favoured by the light-loving and heat-loving species that make up the ecological core of the site's value.

Where exactly is Prosenka located?

The reserve lies in the Jihlava District of the Vysočina Region, administratively within the Kamenice municipality, right next to the village of Vržanov. Its approximate coordinates are 49.35°N, 15.75°E. The slope rises directly above the Jihlava River valley, giving the area a distinctive, canyon-like landscape where bare rock and dry grassland contrast with the green river valley below.

Frequently asked questions

Can Prosenka be visited? As a protected nature reserve, the site should be visited with respect for nature conservation rules, staying on any marked paths and avoiding damage to the vegetation.

What makes this site valuable? Its surviving fragments of dry and moderately moist meadow on a rocky slope, which provide habitat for rare insect and spider species as well as at least one strongly endangered taxon.

When is the best time to visit Prosenka? Given the site's dry, sun-exposed grassland habitat, late spring and summer are the most rewarding times, when insect activity and meadow flowering are at their peak.