Stará Úhlava

Stará Úhlava is a small yet ecologically remarkable nature reserve located south of the town of Švihov, in the Klatovy District of the Czech Republic. The protected area lies roughly 1.5 km southeast of Švihov and less than a kilometre west of the village of Kokšín, tucked between the regulated channel of the Úhlava River and a wooded hill known as Švábí.

What exactly is Stará Úhlava?

It is a surviving fragment of the old, meandering course of the Úhlava River — an oxbow left behind after the river's main channel was straightened. Today it exists as an isolated body of standing water, completely disconnected from the new, regulated riverbed. The protected area covers just 0.5855 hectares, making it one of the smaller nature reserves in the region, though its ecological density more than compensates for its modest size.

How did this old riverbed come to be?

The story of Stará Úhlava goes back to river regulation works carried out in the 1930s and 1940s. The natural course of the Úhlava, full of bends and meanders, kept the wide floodplain waterlogged and caused frequent flooding of nearby farmland. To solve this, the river was straightened along the stretch running from the village of Malechov to Švihov. The old, winding channel was not filled in or converted into farmland, however — it was left in place as a natural water body, forming the oxbow that survives today.

Why is the site protected?

Stará Úhlava was granted legal protection on 1 May 1988 as a natural monument (přírodní památka). The site is managed by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR) and is classified under IUCN Category IV, meaning it is managed specifically for habitat and species protection. The reason behind its protected status is the unique character of this cut-off oxbow, which forms a significant geomorphological and landscape feature within the Úhlava valley.

What can visitors find here?

The oxbow is known for hosting rare aquatic plant species that thrive in the calm, still waters of the abandoned riverbed. This rich aquatic flora is what gives the site its ecological value despite its small footprint. The pond is framed by the forest covering the Švábí hill, reinforcing its secluded, intimate feel compared to the open, regulated river nearby.

It is worth noting that Stará Úhlava is considered most visible and most rewarding to observe in autumn and winter, when fallen leaves and dormant vegetation clear the view toward the water's surface. During these seasons it becomes much easier to trace the outline of the former riverbed and appreciate just how different it looks from today's straightened course of the Úhlava.

Frequently asked questions

Can Stará Úhlava be reached on foot from Švihov? Yes, the reserve lies about 1.5 km from the town, making it an easy destination for a short walk or a bike ride through the surrounding countryside.

Is Stará Úhlava connected to the current course of the Úhlava River? No — the lack of connection to the regulated riverbed is precisely what defines this oxbow. The water remains here as a separated, standing body.

When is the best time to visit? Autumn and winter are considered the best seasons to observe the site, since fallen leaves and dormant plant growth reveal the water and the shape of the old riverbed more clearly.

How large is the protected area? The Stará Úhlava natural monument covers just 0.5855 hectares — a small but intensively protected pocket of landscape.

Who manages the site? The area is overseen by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR), which works to preserve the unique habitat conditions of this old riverbed.