V jezírkách

V jezírkách is a small but ecologically remarkable protected area in central Bohemia, safeguarding a mosaic of wet meadows and field pools across barely three hectares. It lies in the Kolín district, between the villages of Sokoleč, Velim and Cerhenice, right next to the Cerhenice railway test circuit.

Where exactly is it located?

The site sits at an elevation of roughly 193–194 metres above sea level, within the agricultural landscape of the central Bohemian Elbe lowlands (Polabí). Its coordinates are approximately 50.083°N, 15.113°E. While the nearby village of Vítězov is sometimes mentioned in connection with the site, the protected territory itself falls within the triangle formed by Sokoleč, Velim and Cerhenice, immediately adjacent to the railway test track.

What kind of protected area is this?

It is a national natural monument covering just under 3 hectares, made up of a network of permanent and seasonally flooded pools surrounded by meadows, which occupy the largest share of the site. Protection here targets grassland and pasture ecosystems, transitional and lowland peat bogs, and the pools themselves, home to a rich growth of stonewort algae (Characeae) on their beds.

Why has it been protected since 1988?

Legal protection was granted back in 1988 because of the unusually high concentration of rare and threatened wetland-dependent species found on such a small area. In 2009 the same territory was additionally included in the European Natura 2000 network as a Site of Community Importance, confirming its ecological significance beyond national borders.

What species can be found here?

Among the plants, marsh orchids stand out, including the early marsh-orchid, which favours damp meadows. The pools serve as breeding grounds for rare amphibians such as the common spadefoot toad and the fire-bellied toad, for which the seasonal flooding of the terrain is essential. Beneath the water surface, stonewort meadows develop — algae typical of clean, low-nutrient water bodies.

What should visitors know before coming?

The area is managed strictly for conservation rather than recreation, with no marked hiking trails or visitor infrastructure. Approaching the pools can disturb breeding amphibians and damage the delicate stonewort communities, so it is recommended to stay along the edges of the site and avoid walking into the meadows where the protected orchids grow. Proximity to the railway test circuit also means parts of the area may be temporarily inaccessible.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors enter the pools directly? No — this is a strictly protected site, and entering the water endangers amphibian populations and aquatic plants.

How large is the protected area? Approximately 2.98 hectares.

Since when has the site been protected? Since 1988 as a natural monument, and since 2009 also as a Natura 2000 site.

Which species make this site especially valuable? Marsh orchids, the common spadefoot toad, the fire-bellied toad, and stonewort algae.

Are there other natural attractions nearby? Yes, the central Bohemian Elbe lowlands region contains several similar small protected areas linked to former river meanders and oxbow lakes.