V hrobech

V hrobech is a small nature reserve within the city of Prague, tucked between the housing estates of Lhotka, Libuš and Modřany, in the cadastral territory of Kamýk. Despite its somewhat ominous-sounding name, it's simply a modest grassy slope bordered on one side by the Libuš meteorological station, on another by the baseball fields of TJ Tempo, and on a third by the Kamýk forest park. Unassuming as it looks, this spot is one of Prague's green pockets where visitors can encounter plants and wildlife that feel entirely out of place in a capital city.

Why is this place protected?

The reserve was declared on 1 September 1988 by a decision of the then Prague National Committee. It covers an area of roughly 1.3 hectares, at an elevation of between 276 and 282 metres above sea level. Nature and landscape protection here falls under the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic.

The site is protected because of a pasture supporting rare, heat-loving plant and animal species. Its geological base consists of Paleozoic shale, on which a very specific type of vegetation has developed — one adapted to nutrient-poor soils. Current conservation efforts focus mainly on two species: the Bohemian pasque flower (Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. bohemica) and Bohemian gagea (Gagea bohemica). Historically, other species were also recorded here, including garland flower (Daphne cneorum), the Gallic rose (Rosa gallica) and the green-winged orchid (Orchis morio), though not all of these persist today.

How is the site maintained?

Keeping the reserve's character intact — and preventing the slope from being overtaken by common vegetation — requires active, ongoing management. The grass is mown once a year, and the cuttings are carefully removed so they don't enrich the soil, since it's precisely the nutrient-poor ground that favours the rare species living here. Sheep and goats are also brought in to graze the site, helping preserve the original plant community and keeping shrubs and dominant grasses in check.

What should you know before visiting?

V hrobech isn't a conventional tourist attraction with visitor infrastructure or marked educational trails — it's better understood as a small, living fragment of Prague's original landscape, squeezed between modern housing and sports facilities. The best time to visit is spring, when the protected plant species are in bloom, making the contrast between this patch of steppe-like vegetation and its surrounding urban environment most striking.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is V hrobech located? In Prague, in the cadastral territory of Kamýk, between the Lhotka, Libuš and Modřany housing estates.

When was the reserve established? It was declared a protected area on 1 September 1988.

How large is the reserve? About 1.3 hectares.

Which species are protected here? Mainly the Bohemian pasque flower (Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. bohemica) and Bohemian gagea (Gagea bohemica).

Is the site actively managed? Yes — the grass is mown once a year, and sheep and goats are grazed on the site to help maintain its original vegetation.