Rašeliniště u myslivny

Rašeliniště u myslivny is a small nature reserve in the Slavkovský les Protected Landscape Area, in the Sokolov district of the Czech Republic, between the villages of Rovná and Nová Ves. It lies roughly 1.3 km southeast of a memorial marking the site of Čistá, a village that vanished after being depopulated in the mid-20th century. The reserve was declared in 2007 and is managed by the administration of the Slavkovský les Protected Landscape Area.

Why was this site protected?

The reserve was created to safeguard plant communities typical of boggy meadows, marshy grassland, and intermittently wet meadows. Springs and patches of heathland add further habitat variety within a relatively small area, which is one reason the site supports an unusually rich mix of wetland-adapted species for its size.

A second key reason for protection is the presence of the marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), a rare butterfly whose populations have been declining across much of Central Europe due to the loss of wet grassland habitats. A stable population of this species at the reserve is considered a strong indicator of the ecological health of its meadows and peat bogs.

What can visitors expect to find?

The reserve is known for its variety of rare bog and wetland plants. Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) grows in the boggy meadows, a species typically found along the margins of peat bogs and marshes. On the transitional bog areas, visitors can find bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia) and crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) — both characteristic of nutrient-poor, acidic peat habitats and uncommon outside mountain and upland regions.

Other notable plants include arnica (Arnica montana), a species long used in folk medicine that has become increasingly scarce in the wild due to harvesting pressure and changes in meadow management. The reserve is also home to orchids, including the common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and the broad-leaved marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis), along with globeflower (Trollius europaeus), recognizable by its round, bright yellow flowers, and creeping willow (Salix repens), a low-growing shrub typical of damp, sandy or peaty ground.

Getting there and visiting

The reserve sits in a quiet, sparsely populated part of the Slavkovský les Protected Landscape Area, a region better known for the Karlovy Vary spa towns and its extensive forests. The nearest landmark is the memorial to the former village of Čistá, one of many settlements in the region destroyed and depopulated after the Second World War. Because the site holds nature reserve status, visitors should stick to designated paths — straying off-trail can damage the sensitive peat bog and wet meadow habitats that the reserve exists to protect.

Frequently asked questions

When was Rašeliniště u myslivny declared a nature reserve? The reserve was formally established in 2007.

Which rare animal species is protected here? The marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), a rare butterfly associated with wet meadows.

What rare plants grow in the reserve? Notable species include bog rosemary, crowberry, arnica, bogbean, and several orchid species from the Dactylorhiza genus.

Where exactly is the reserve located? Between the villages of Rovná and Nová Ves in the Sokolov district, within the Slavkovský les Protected Landscape Area.