Smradlavá

Smradlavá is a small nature monument located about 3 km north of the town of Karolinka, in the Vsetín Mountains in eastern Moravia, on the eastern slopes of the Raťkov ridge, in the headwater area of the Smrdutá stream. The protected site covers 9.28 hectares at an elevation of 610–790 m and lies within the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Beskydy), close to another reserve, Vachalka. The area is managed by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR), through its Beskydy administration.

What exactly is protected here?

The reserve preserves a surviving fragment of natural forest, dominated by beech, typical of the mountain zone of the Western Carpathians. Part of the stand is around 225 years old, and the oldest spruce-beech trees are close to 170 years old — a remnant of old-growth forest that has become rare in the Beskydy Mountains after centuries of forestry. This age and the natural structure of the stand, a mosaic of different developmental stages including standing and fallen dead wood, make the site valuable for rare and endangered species of plants and animals that depend on such structural diversity.

What plant species grow in the reserve?

The forest floor is unusually rich for such a small area. Species recorded here include several toothwort relatives — bulbous coralroot (Dentaria bulbifera), nine-leaf toothwort (Dentaria enneaphyllos) and glandular toothwort (Dentaria glandulosa) — along with whorled Solomon's seal (Polygonatum verticillatum), European wild ginger (Asarum europaeum) and mezereon (Daphne mezereum). The presence of these species points to a well-preserved, nutrient-rich forest habitat typical of old, little-disturbed beech woodlands in the region.

Why does the name sound so unusual?

The name "Smradlavá" (literally "the stinking one") refers to the Smrdutá stream, in whose source area the reserve lies. Such names in Czech mountain terrain are usually tied to boggy, waterlogged ground near a stream's source, where decomposing organic matter can produce a distinctive smell — which also helps explain why the area was left largely untouched and was able to retain its natural forest stand.

How can visitors reach Smradlavá?

The reserve lies within the Vsetín Mountains (part of the wider Beskydy range), in the municipality of Karolinka, Vsetín District, in eastern Moravia. Given its small size and forested character, the protected area is mainly accessible to hikers using trails around the Raťkov ridge, without dedicated tourist infrastructure inside the reserve itself.

Frequently asked questions

How large is the Smradlavá reserve? It covers 9.28 hectares, at elevations between 610 and 790 m.

What is the main subject of protection? A preserved fragment of natural beech and spruce-beech forest up to about 225 years old, together with the rare plant and animal species that depend on it.

Where exactly is the reserve located? About 3 km north of Karolinka, on the eastern slopes of the Raťkov ridge, within the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area.

Are there other protected areas nearby? Yes, the Vachalka nature reserve lies close by.

Who manages the reserve? The Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR), as part of the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area administration.