About this place
Svratka is a small but botanically significant protected area, designated as a nature monument, located along the river of the same name in the municipality of Ujčov, in the Žďár nad Sázavou district of the Vysočina Region in the Czech Republic. The site sits at an elevation of 320–330 metres above sea level, in the Svratka river valley, within the boundaries of the Svratecká hornatina Protected Landscape Area.
Why is this site protected?
The Svratka nature monument covers just 0.42 hectares, making it one of the smallest protected areas in the region — yet its botanical value is disproportionate to its size. The reason for protection is a small stretch of riverside vegetation that hosts an abundant population of the ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris). This is the only known occurrence of this fern species in this part of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands and within the Svratecká hornatina Protected Landscape Area, giving the site notable regional botanical significance.
Legal protection was established on 23 November 1996. The site is formally classified as a species protection area, corresponding to IUCN category IV, meaning the conservation goal targets a specific species or habitat rather than a broader ecosystem. In the Czech register of protected areas, it is listed under code 1858. The site is administered by the Krajský úřad Kraje Vysočina, the regional authority of the Vysočina Region.
What can visitors see on site?
At the core of the protected area is a stretch of the Svratka riverbank covered in lush riparian vegetation. It is precisely these conditions — moist soil, partial shade, and proximity to flowing water — that provide the ostrich fern with a suitable habitat. The plant forms distinctive, vase-shaped clusters of large, feather-like fronds that clearly set it apart from more common woodland ferns. Alongside the fern, other herbaceous plants typical of riverside plant communities grow here, forming a dense, multi-layered strip of greenery along the riverbed.
An information panel stands beside the road running along the protected area, allowing visitors to learn about the site's history and significance. Its location in the Svratka valley places it within the wider landscape of the Svratecká hornatina Protected Landscape Area — a range of hills and valleys stretching along the river between Borovnice near Jimramov and Předklášteří near Tišnov.
Who is this site for?
The Svratka nature monument will appeal mainly to plant enthusiasts and visitors interested in rare species, as well as to tourists exploring the area around Ujčov and the Svratka valley during hiking or cycling trips through the Vysočina region. Given its small size and protected vegetation, visits should be limited to observation from the marked route, without entering the riverside vegetation itself.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is the Svratka nature monument located? In the municipality of Ujčov, Žďár nad Sázavou district, Vysočina Region, along the Svratka river, at an elevation of 320–330 metres above sea level.
How large is this protected area? It covers 0.42 hectares.
What is the main reason for protecting this site? The presence of an abundant population of the rare ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) — the only known occurrence of this species in this part of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.
When was the site placed under protection? On 23 November 1996.
Who manages this site? The Krajský úřad Kraje Vysočina (Vysočina Regional Authority).
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