Údolí Kohoutovického potoka

Údolí Kohoutovického potoka (Kohoutovice Stream Valley) is a small nature reserve tucked inside the city of Brno, hidden in a narrow, deeply cut valley between the districts of Pisárky and Kohoutovice. The protected strip is only 15–40 metres wide and stretches for about 1.2 km along the stream that gives it its name, covering barely 3 hectares in total. Despite sitting right next to the road connecting the two districts, it feels like a completely separate world from the surrounding urban landscape.

How the valley was formed

Over thousands of years, the Kohoutovický stream cut its bed into biotite granodiorite bedrock, gradually deepening the valley through erosion. The result is a narrow, winding ravine with steep slopes, where cold air sinks and settles at the bottom. This creates a temperature inversion — the valley floor is noticeably cooler than the surrounding hillsides, allowing plant species typical of higher, cooler mountain elevations to survive here, far from their usual habitat.

Why is it protected?

The reserve was established in November 1987 to protect the stream's natural, meandering bed and the original forest stands, dominated by beech, that still cover the lower slopes. It's precisely this unusual cool microclimate that has let mountain and submountain plant species persist inside city limits, something rarely seen so close to a major urban centre.

What can you see here?

The valley's biggest natural highlight is its orchids. It is the only known site in Brno where the critically endangered red helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra) grows. Alongside it, the forest floor also hosts white helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium), lesser butterfly-orchid (Platanthera bifolia), and bird's-nest orchid (Neottia nidus-avis). Having this many rare orchid species concentrated in such a small area makes the valley a genuinely notable spot on Brno's nature map.

How to visit

A nature trail runs through the reserve, letting visitors walk along the stream at an easy pace and take in the valley's character without needing to leave the city. It's a good option for anyone who wants a taste of untouched-feeling nature without planning a full day trip outside Brno.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Údolí Kohoutovického potoka? Within Brno, between the districts of Pisárky and Kohoutovice, along the road that connects them.

How big is the protected area? About 3 hectares, forming a narrow strip 15–40 metres wide and roughly 1.2 km long.

When was the valley protected? In November 1987, when it was declared a nature monument (přírodní památka).

What makes it ecologically valuable? Its natural stream bed, old beech forest stands, and a population of rare orchids, including Brno's only known site for the red helleborine.

Can you just walk through it? Yes, the reserve is accessible via a nature trail that follows the stream along the valley.