Upolíny (natural monument, Prachatice)

Upolíny is a small but ecologically valuable natural monument near Prachatice, protecting one of the last remaining sites of the globeflower (upolín nejvyšší, a tall yellow-flowered plant in the buttercup family) in southern Bohemia. The protected area lies roughly 500 meters north of Libínské Sedlo, a part of the town of Prachatice, along the upper course of the Fefrovský stream, on the right side of road II/141 leading from Prachatice toward Libínské Sedlo. The reserve covers just 0.42 hectares, making it one of the smaller yet carefully managed protected sites in the region.

What does this natural monument protect?

The main reason for protection is a wetland meadow that has preserved a strongly declining population of the globeflower, a species that has disappeared from many other parts of the Czech Republic. The plant covers as much as 70 percent of the protected area, forming particularly dense stands near spring outflows that keep the soil consistently moist throughout the growing season. Besides the globeflower, the meadow hosts a number of other protected and valuable plant species, including meadowsweet, marsh betony, greater bistort, fragrant orchid, and elecampane. This combination of species points to the high ecological value of wet meadow habitats, many of which have been degraded elsewhere in Central Europe through drainage or intensive agricultural use.

What does the landscape around Upolíny look like?

The vegetation in the reserve consists of tall herb-rich meadows typical of the foothill areas surrounding the Šumava mountains. The site sits within a stream valley, which provides a constant water supply and maintains the conditions needed by moisture-loving plants. The surroundings have a rural, meadow-and-forest character typical of the Prachatice area, a region at the foot of the Šumava mountains known for its extensive meadows, forests, and traditional cultural landscape of southern Bohemia.

Why is Upolíny worth visiting?

The site is of particular interest to visitors interested in botany and nature conservation, offering a rare chance to see in its natural habitat a species that has vanished or become very rare in much of the Czech Republic. Given its small size and the fragile nature of the habitat, visits should be limited to observation from marked paths, avoiding the meadow itself so as not to damage the shallow root systems of the wetland plants.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Upolíny located? About 500 meters north of Libínské Sedlo, a part of the town of Prachatice, along road II/141 toward Libínské Sedlo, following the upper course of the Fefrovský stream.

How large is the protected area? The natural monument covers 0.42 hectares.

What can visitors see there? A wetland meadow with a mass occurrence of globeflower, alongside other protected plants such as meadowsweet, greater bistort, and fragrant orchid.

When is the best time to visit? Early summer is the best time to see the globeflower in bloom, when the plant displays its characteristic yellow flowers.