Radostínské rašeliniště

Radostínské rašeliniště is a national nature reserve in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic, situated near the village of Radostín in the Žďár nad Sázavou district, at an elevation of 618–622 metres, within the Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area. The reserve protects one of the most valuable watershed-type transitional bogs in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, an ecosystem that has survived despite a history of peat extraction.

What is protected here?

The main conservation focus is a transitional bog together with its characteristic plant and animal communities. The reserve covers roughly 35 hectares, with peat layers reaching depths of up to 3.26 metres in places. The area forms part of "Březina," the second-largest peat deposit in the region, estimated to hold more than two million cubic metres of peat spread across 107 hectares — a scale that highlights the site's significance not only for ecology but also for geology.

What plant life grows on the bog?

Radostínské rašeliniště is the only known site of bog pine (Pinus rotundata) in the entire Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, a fact that alone makes the reserve unique in the region. Alongside this rare tree species, visitors can find cotton-grass, round-leaved sundew, and bog rosemary — plants typical of nutrient-poor, acidic peatland habitats, adapted to waterlogged conditions and low nutrient availability.

What animals live in the reserve?

The bog and its surrounding forests support a rich array of wildlife. The reserve is especially notable for its butterfly diversity, home to more than 500 species. Birds associated with the wetland include the common snipe, the kingfisher, and several woodpecker species, all of which benefit from the combination of open wet terrain and adjacent woodland for feeding and nesting.

What is the history of this site?

Until the First World War, peat was extracted from what is now the reserve, a common economic practice in the region at the time. After extraction ceased, the area gradually regained its natural character and today serves as an important site for scientific research into peatland processes and habitat regeneration following human activity.

Why is Radostínské rašeliniště worth visiting?

The reserve appeals to those interested in a less obvious but highly valuable side of nature — peat bogs rank among the most threatened yet most ecologically significant habitats in Central Europe. The presence of the region's only bog pine population, combined with an exceptional diversity of butterflies, gives this reserve importance that extends well beyond the borders of the Vysočina Region.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Radostínské rašeliniště located? In the Vysočina Region, near the village of Radostín, in the Žďár nad Sázavou district, within the Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area, at an elevation of 618–622 metres.

How large is the reserve? It covers approximately 35 hectares, with peat depth reaching up to 3.26 metres.

What is the main conservation target? A watershed-type transitional bog and its characteristic flora and fauna, including the region's only population of bog pine.

Was peat once extracted here? Yes, extraction continued until the First World War, after which the site was transformed into a protected and scientifically studied area.