V Koutech

V Koutech is a small nature monument located southwest of the town of Nasavrky, in the Chrudim district of the Pardubice Region in the Czech Republic, within the Železné hory Protected Landscape Area. Covering just 0.83 hectares at an elevation of 527–530 metres above sea level, it is one of the more modest yet ecologically valuable protected sites in this part of the country.

What is V Koutech?

The site protects a marshy meadow with distinctive, moisture-loving vegetation. This habitat type was the reason the area was placed under protection back in 1949, by decision of the Ministry of Education, Science and Arts, making V Koutech one of the older designated protected areas in the region. Today it is administered by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, Eastern Bohemia Regional Office.

Why is this meadow protected?

Marshy meadows like V Koutech have become an increasingly rare habitat type across the agricultural landscape of Central Europe. Their ecological value lies in supporting plant species adapted to permanently waterlogged soil, which are absent from the drier meadows typically used for farming. Site documentation records the presence of bog arum (Calla palustris) — a plant species characteristic of wet, marshy habitats, and its presence indicates the wetland has been reasonably well preserved.

The site's small size means its protection depends on careful, ongoing monitoring. Marshy meadows are highly sensitive to changes in the surrounding water regime, including drainage and land reclamation on neighbouring plots — a pressure that, in similar locations across the region, led to a loss of plant diversity during the second half of the 20th century.

Where exactly is it located?

V Koutech lies near Nasavrky, a small town in the Chrudim district, within the Železné hory (Iron Mountains) — a range in east-central Bohemia known for its mosaic of forests, meadows, and small watercourses. The site's approximate coordinates are 49°50′ N, 15°48′ E.

What should you know before visiting?

Given its small size and status as a nature monument rather than a tourist attraction, V Koutech is best suited to visitors with an interest in botany and wetland ecology, rather than those seeking developed visitor infrastructure. As with any protected natural area, visitors should stick to any marked paths and avoid picking plants — a rule that matters especially here, given how sensitive marshy habitats are to disturbance.

Frequently asked questions

What is the V Koutech nature monument? It is a protected marshy meadow covering 0.83 hectares near Nasavrky in the Chrudim district, designated in 1949 for its distinctive, moisture-loving vegetation.

What plant life can be found here? Site documentation records the presence of bog arum (Calla palustris), a species typical of marshy habitats.

Who manages the site? The Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, Eastern Bohemia Regional Office.

When was the area protected? On 30 May 1949, by decision of the then Ministry of Education, Science and Arts.

In which region is V Koutech located? In the Železné hory range, within the Pardubice Region's Chrudim district, near the town of Nasavrky.