Zhůřská pláň

Zhůřská pláň is a nature reserve in the Šumava mountains, located south of the village of Čachrov in the Klatovy district of the Czech Republic. Covering a modest area of roughly 132 hectares, the reserve sits near the site of the vanished village of Zhůří, about 8–9 km south of Čachrov and a few kilometers west of Hartmanice, close to the settlement of Keply. The site falls under the administration of the Šumava National Park and Protected Landscape Area.

Why is the area protected?

The reserve was established to protect naturally developing plant communities on peatlands, spring areas, and wetlands. It is this combination of waterlogged habitats — transitional bogs, damp meadows, and groundwater seepage zones — that makes the site stand out among Šumava's protected areas. Conservation efforts cover both the habitats themselves and the plant and animal species adapted to permanently wet conditions.

From farmland to military training ground

The history of Zhůřská pláň is unusual and explains the semi-wild character of today's landscape. Until the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the surrounding land was intensively farmed — fields were cultivated and livestock grazed here, and the village of Zhůří was a living settlement. After its inhabitants left, however, the area came under military administration and became part of the Dobrá Voda training ground. During this period trenches were dug across the terrain, and part of the area served as a tank exercise field. Although disruptive, this military use paradoxically kept the land from returning to intensive agriculture — abandoned fields and meadows gradually reverted to a more natural state, allowing peatlands and wetlands to develop, which are the very features protected here today.

Landscape and nature

Today Zhůřská pláň is an open, gently undulating upland landscape where former fields and pastures have given way to a mosaic of wetland communities. Characteristic features include spots where groundwater seeps to the surface, feeding local streams and helping keep the soil moist throughout the year. Habitats of this kind form an important part of Šumava's ecological network — they provide refuge for species tied to peatlands and damp mountain meadows, while also acting as natural retention basins that slow the runoff of water from the surrounding highlands.

How to get there

The reserve lies off Šumava's main tourist routes, so it mainly attracts visitors with a specific interest in nature or in the history of the region's vanished border settlements. The most convenient starting point is Čachrov, from which a road leads south through the area of the former village of Zhůří toward the boundaries of the protected zone. Since the land was once a military training ground, visitors are advised to keep to marked paths only.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Zhůřská pláň located? The reserve lies in the Šumava mountains, in the Klatovy district, south of Čachrov and west of Hartmanice, near the site of the former village of Zhůří.

How large is the protected area? The reserve covers approximately 131.86 hectares.

What is being protected here? The naturally developing peatlands, spring areas, and wetlands that formed on former agricultural land are the main conservation targets.

Why is the site referred to as a former military training ground? After residents left, the area became part of the Dobrá Voda training ground, where the military dug trenches and conducted tank exercises.

Who manages the reserve? The area is overseen by the administration of the Šumava National Park and Protected Landscape Area.