Ve Studeném

Ve Studeném is a national nature reserve set on a steep slope of the Sázava river valley, within the cadastral territory of Samechov, part of the Chocerady municipality in Central Bohemia. It protects a stretch of natural forest on the left bank of a pronounced river meander, climbing the flank of the Spálený vrch hill (459 m above sea level). Established in 1935, it holds the distinction of being the first protected area ever designated in the Benešov district.

What does the reserve protect?

The core purpose of protection is preserving forest stands with a primeval structure — natural beech woods and scree-slope forest communities that together form one of the last larger forest complexes in the Sázava valley to retain its original, natural species composition. In a region of Central Bohemia where most woodland has long been shaped by forestry management, this kind of untouched stand is genuinely rare.

How large is the area, and what does the terrain look like?

The reserve covers 42.28 hectares. Its defining feature is the steepness of the slope: the terrain climbs nearly 160 meters in elevation over a distance of only about half a kilometer. That ruggedness has effectively kept the forest inaccessible and, as a result, largely undisturbed — the terrain itself has acted as the reserve's best protection over the decades.

What species live here?

Surveys have recorded 35 tree species and as many as 190 fungal species within the reserve — numbers that alone point to a mature, structurally complex forest ecosystem. Alongside numerous rare and locally significant fungi, the area supports a rich mollusc fauna, and several severely endangered bird species nest in its old-growth canopy. Together, these findings make Ve Studeném an important site for regional biodiversity conservation.

Can visitors enter the reserve?

No. Ve Studeném is not open to public access. Under Czech law, entry off marked and approved trails is prohibited, and no such trails have been laid out within the reserve's boundaries. In practice, this means the interior of the protected area is off-limits to hikers — a restriction that, together with the terrain, is precisely what has allowed its primeval character to survive largely intact.

Where exactly is it located?

The reserve lies along the Sázava river at a point where the waterway forms a distinct meander, within the cadastral area of Samechov. Its approximate coordinates are 49.8736 N, 14.8618 E. While the reserve's interior cannot be visited directly, its forested slope is visible from the surrounding trails that trace the Sázava valley — a stretch of countryside popular with hikers and canoeists exploring this part of Central Bohemia.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a hiking trail through the Ve Studeném reserve? No, there are no marked trails inside the reserve, and entry beyond its boundaries is legally prohibited.

Since when has the area been protected? Since 1935, making it the oldest protected area in the Benešov district.

How big is the reserve? It spans 42.28 hectares on a steep slope of the Sázava valley.

What is the main natural value of this site? Its natural, primeval beech and scree-slope forest, along with a rich diversity of fungi, molluscs, and rare nesting birds.