Třtěnské stráně

Třtěnské stráně is a small but ecologically significant nature monument located just north of the village of Třtěno, within the Chožov municipality, in the Louny district of the northwestern Czech Republic. The site lies inside the České středohoří Protected Landscape Area and falls under the management of its nature conservation administration. Its coordinates are approximately 50.4295 N, 13.8785 E.

Why was this area protected?

The reserve was established to protect so-called white hillsides and slope springs, where dry meadows have developed alongside a rich mix of thermophilic (heat-loving) and halophilic (salt-tolerant) plant species. This unusual combination of limestone-influenced soil, sun-exposed slopes, and damp seepage zones near the springs has produced a mosaic of habitats that is uncommon elsewhere in this part of the Czech Republic. The area also plays an important role as a habitat for day-flying butterflies, which rely on the open, flower-rich meadows for feeding and breeding.

How large is the protected area?

Originally, the reserve covered 19.16 hectares. In 2013, its boundaries were reassessed and the core protected area was reduced to 12.99 hectares, with an additional 10.71-hectare buffer zone established around it. Such boundary corrections are common among older Czech nature reserves, whose limits are periodically adjusted to better reflect where the ecologically valuable habitats actually occur.

Where exactly is Třtěnské stráně located?

The reserve sits roughly 9 kilometers southwest of the town of Louny, close to the village of Třtěno. The surrounding landscape belongs to the scenic České středohoří (Central Bohemian Uplands), an area shaped by distinctive cone-shaped hills of volcanic origin. Nearby rise some of the region's best-known peaks — Oblík, Srdov, Brník, and Číčov — which together form one of the most recognizable landscapes in northern Bohemia, popular among hikers and nature photographers alike.

What should visitors know before going?

Třtěnské stráně is a destination better suited to those interested in botany and entomology than to travelers seeking classic scenic viewpoints — there is no dedicated tourist infrastructure here, and the site's real value lies in its plant and insect diversity rather than a dramatic panorama. Still, it makes sense to combine a visit with exploring the nearby hills of the České středohoří, which offer sweeping views over the Ohře river valley and surrounding villages.

Frequently asked questions

What is Třtěnské stráně? It is a nature monument protecting dry meadows, white hillsides, and slope springs near the village of Třtěno, within the České středohoří region.

How big is the protected area? Currently 12.99 hectares of core protected land plus a 10.71-hectare buffer zone — originally it covered 19.16 hectares before the boundaries were adjusted in 2013.

Why is it worth protecting? Because of its rare combination of heat-loving and salt-tolerant plant habitats and a notably rich population of day-flying butterflies, seldom found in such concentration elsewhere in the region.

How do you get to Třtěnské stráně? The reserve lies about 9 km southwest of Louny, near the village of Třtěno, surrounded by the hills of Oblík, Srdov, Brník, and Číčov.

Is there any tourist infrastructure on site? No — it is a strictly nature-focused site without developed visitor facilities, aimed mainly at people interested in the region's flora and fauna.