Šebeň

Šebeň is a protected natural monument spanning more than 133 hectares between the villages of Dobrá Voda, Jívoví and Cyrilov in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. Declared a protected area on 25 June 2002, it safeguards a remarkable complex of fir-beech forest along with one of the largest concentrations of red wood ants (Formica polyctena) found anywhere in Central Europe.

What makes Šebeň so unusual?

The reserve was created primarily to protect an extraordinary density of ant colonies. Roughly 1,100 nests of the red wood ant have been counted across the forest complex, making it the largest known cluster of this species in the Czech Republic. These ants build tall, distinctive mounds out of pine needles and twigs, and their colonies play an important ecological role by keeping populations of forest insects in check — earning them a reputation as natural guardians of forest health.

The fir-beech woodland itself is considered a valuable, well-preserved example of the region's natural forest vegetation. It was this combination of mature, undisturbed forest and an unusually rich population of ants that led authorities to grant the area protected status.

How can visitors explore the area?

In 2006, the Czech Union for Nature Conservation opened an educational trail roughly 3 kilometers long through the reserve, marked with 12 information panels. The trail explains the biology of the ants, the structure of their nests, and the role the forest plays as their habitat.

The trail can be reached in two ways: via a field path from the village of Dobrá Voda, about 1.5 kilometers away, or from the village of Jívoví, just 600 meters from the trailhead along the road toward Radenice. Both approaches are easy walks that don't require special fitness, making Šebeň a good destination for a relaxed, half-day hike in the Vysočina Region.

Has the forest been affected by recent damage?

Yes. Between 2021 and 2022, the area suffered from a bark beetle outbreak, which required the removal of a number of infested trees. This altered the character of some parts of the forest, but the ant colonies and the educational trail remain intact, and the site continues to hold its protected status.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Šebeň located? The reserve lies between the villages of Dobrá Voda, Jívoví and Cyrilov in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic.

How large is the protected area? Šebeň covers more than 133 hectares of fir-beech forest.

When was the area protected? It was declared a natural monument on 25 June 2002.

What is the main attraction? Its main draw is the dense concentration of red wood ant nests and a 3-kilometer educational trail with 12 information panels, opened in 2006.

Where should visitors start their hike? Either from Dobrá Voda (about 1.5 km via a field path) or from Jívoví (about 600 meters toward Radenice).