Stará Ves (natural monument)

Stará Ves is a small yet botanically remarkable nature reserve located in the municipality of Hudlice, in the Beroun District of Central Bohemia, Czech Republic. Established on 11 October 1984, the protected area covers less than two hectares, yet it ranks among the most interesting natural sites in the vicinity of the Křivoklátsko Highlands, drawing botany enthusiasts and travelers looking for a quiet encounter with Czech wild nature.

Why is this site protected?

The bedrock of Stará Ves consists of diabase, a basic volcanic rock that warms up faster than the surrounding soils and releases significant amounts of calcium into the ground. This combination of warmth and alkaline soil chemistry has created unique conditions for thermophilous and lime-loving plant communities, more typical of rocky steppes than of the wider Central European landscape. The reserve sits at an elevation of 310 to 345 meters above sea level, and its slope orientation helps preserve a microclimate reminiscent of dry, sun-exposed steppe habitats.

What can you see here?

Within this tiny area, botanists have recorded approximately 170 species of vascular plants — an impressive number for a site of less than two hectares. Among the most valuable species is feather grass (Stipa pennata), easily recognized by its long, feathery awns and typically associated with xerothermic grasslands and steppes. The reserve is also home to mountain alyssum (Alyssum montanum), wood anemone (Anemonoides sylvestris), and large speedwell (Veronica teucrium). The presence of these species turns the reserve into a kind of island of xerothermic vegetation set within a landscape otherwise dominated by forests and farmland.

Who is this destination for?

Stará Ves appeals to visitors interested in botany, nature photography, and quiet walks away from crowds. Given its small size and protected status, exploration should stay on designated paths so as not to disturb the sensitive plant communities growing on the rocky substrate. Spring and early summer are the best times to visit, when most species are in full bloom and the steppe vegetation is at its most spectacular.

How to get there?

The reserve lies near the village of Hudlice, in the Beroun District, close to the Křivoklátsko Highlands — a region known for its forests, river valleys, and numerous protected areas. The surrounding countryside also offers additional natural and historical attractions, making it easy to combine a visit to Stará Ves with a broader trip through the region.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors move freely around the Stará Ves reserve? As a protected area, the reserve requires visitors to stay on marked paths and refrain from picking plants — its value depends entirely on keeping these plant communities undisturbed.

What makes this place special? A rare combination of diabase bedrock and a warm microclimate that has allowed steppe-like plant communities to survive in the heart of Central Bohemia.

How large is the protected area? The reserve covers just under two hectares, making it one of the smaller yet botanically richest sites of its kind in the region.