Vršky - Díly

Vršky – Díly is a nature reserve on the eastern edge of the town of Vsetín, tucked into the Vsetín Hills of eastern Moravia. The protected area covers roughly 19.4 hectares, with an additional buffer zone of about 6.6 hectares surrounding it. It's a place where centuries of small-scale farming and untouched nature have blended into a landscape that has become genuinely rare in this part of the Czech Republic.

What makes up the reserve?

The name reflects the site's two connected sections. Vršky is dominated by species-rich flower meadows, home to a variety of heat-loving plants that thrive on the sun-exposed slopes. Díly, the second part, consists of old agricultural terraces lined with hedgerows and strips of shrubs — a legacy of generations of farmers who worked this steep, hard-to-access hillside by hand rather than machine.

Why was it protected?

The reserve was established primarily to preserve the terraced structure of the slope, which supports populations of specially protected and locally rare plant species. The meadows host orchids and other heat-loving flora that have become increasingly scarce in the wider region. Just as important is the wildlife: the mosaic of meadows, hedges and scrub provides ideal habitat for a notably rich bird population, along with numerous insect species that depend on this particular combination of open grassland and shrubby cover.

A landscape shaped by people

What sets Vršky – Díly apart from many nature reserves is that its current appearance is largely the result of human activity rather than untouched wilderness. The terraced slopes were carved out over centuries by farmers cultivating land too steep and awkward for modern mechanized agriculture. Because the site kept being worked in this traditional way — and was later placed under protection rather than abandoned or intensified — it preserved a fine-grained landscape mosaic of meadows, field margins and shrub strips that has largely disappeared from more heavily farmed areas nearby.

Who should visit?

This reserve suits nature lovers, botanists and birdwatchers looking for an easy, low-key outing rather than a demanding hike. Its proximity to Vsetín makes it an accessible destination for an afternoon walk, with no need to plan a full day trip into the mountains. The alternating pattern of open meadow, shrubland and terraced slope creates a landscape that changes noticeably with the seasons: flowering meadows in spring and summer, colorful scrub in autumn, and a stark, quiet view of the bare terraces in winter.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Vršky – Díly reserve located? On the eastern edge of the town of Vsetín, within the Vsetín Hills, in the Vsetín district of the Czech Republic.

How large is the protected area? The core reserve covers about 19.4 hectares, plus an additional 6.6-hectare buffer zone around it.

What can visitors see there? Flower-rich meadows with heat-loving species including orchids, alongside distinctive agricultural terraces lined with hedgerows and shrubs.

Is it a good spot for birdwatching? Yes — the mix of meadows, hedgerows and scrub supports a notably rich bird population as well as numerous insect species.