About this place
Slepičí vršek is a small yet geologically remarkable sand dune located half a kilometer north of the village of Lužnice, in the Jindřichův Hradec district of South Bohemia, Czech Republic. Covering just 1.89 hectares, this modest nature monument holds outsized scientific value thanks to its unusual origin and the rare habitat it preserves. The site lies within the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area and forms part of the Třeboňsko bird area, underlining its importance for regional biodiversity conservation.
How did Slepičí vršek form?
The hill is in fact an isolated sand dune that developed where the Lužnice River once deposited sand, which wind action later reshaped into its present form. This aeolian process produced a distinctive, wavy landform rising 3 to 4 meters above the surrounding terrain. The dune has an oval outline roughly 200 by 60 meters, stretching in a north-south direction. The fact that its original undulating profile has survived intact makes Slepičí vršek a valuable record of the geomorphological processes that shaped the Lužnice river valley after the last ice age.
Why is this site protected?
Slepičí vršek has held legal protection since 1955, making it one of the longer-standing protected natural areas in the region. Today it forms part of the broader Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area, an area known for its wealth of wetland habitats, fishponds, and sandy terrain. Its status as a nature monument (přírodní památka) safeguards both the unique geological formation itself and the plant and animal communities tied to it.
What plants and animals live on the dune?
Most of the dune's surface is covered by vegetation typical of sandy habitats — species adapted to dry, nutrient-poor, and sun-exposed conditions. This kind of psammophilous flora has become increasingly rare across the Czech Republic, which adds particular conservation value to sites like this one. Rare insect species are closely tied to this vegetation, relying on the sandy substrate and its specific microclimate for survival. The dune therefore functions as a refuge for organisms strongly dependent on this habitat type, one that has been disappearing elsewhere in the country due to river regulation and changing land use.
How do you get to Slepičí vršek?
The site is open to visitors, reached by a path from the village of Lužnice, making it an easy destination for a short nature walk. Its proximity to the Lužnice River and its location within the scenic Třeboňsko region mean a visit can easily be combined with other natural attractions in the area, which is well known for its ponds, wetlands, and network of walking and cycling trails.
Frequently asked questions
What is Slepičí vršek? It is a nature monument consisting of an isolated sand dune formed from sediment deposited by the Lužnice River and later shaped by wind.
How large is the protected area? The reserve covers 1.89 hectares, and the dune itself measures roughly 200 meters in length and 60 meters in width.
Since when has the site been protected? It has held legal protection since 1955.
What can visitors see there? A distinctive wavy landform rising 3–4 meters above the surrounding land, sand-habitat vegetation, and the rare insect species associated with it.
Where exactly is it located? Half a kilometer north of the village of Lužnice, within the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area in South Bohemia.
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