Zvoníčkovna

Zvoníčkovna is a small but ecologically valuable nature reserve located just north of the village of Kornatice, in the Rokycany District of the Pilsen Region. The area forms part of the Kamínky Nature Park and was placed under protection for its well-preserved mixed deciduous forest and its diverse understory and meadow flora.

What does the reserve protect?

Most of Zvoníčkovna's area is covered by mixed forest that can be described as an oak forest or oak-hornbeam woodland, with fairly well-preserved remnants of natural forest plant communities typical of this part of the Czech Republic. It is precisely this good state of preservation of the forest floor vegetation that led to the site being granted legal protection.

What plant species grow here?

The forest understory hosts a number of plant species significant for nature conservation, including spurge-laurel (a poisonous shrub now rare across much of Central Europe), cowslip, Solomon's seal, and herb paris (four-leaved true-lover's-knot). The presence of these species points to a high degree of naturalness and long ecological continuity within the forest ecosystem.

Roughly a quarter of the reserve's surface is taken up by a wet meadow that developed in connection with the now-vanished medieval village of Javor. The relatively driest part of this meadow, lying to the west and north, shows the greatest floristic diversity. It is here that further rare and protected plants can be found, such as lungwort, marsh helleborine (a wetland orchid), and common bistort.

What is the history behind this site?

In its northeastern section, upstream along a small brook, the Zvoníčkovna reserve borders the site of the former medieval village of Javor. The settlement disappeared as part of the broader pattern of medieval and early-modern village abandonment seen across many border regions of Bohemia, and its former meadows and pastures gradually became incorporated into today's protected area. The remnants of the village and the surrounding meadow landscape now serve as a valuable record of how this land was once used and managed.

Why is Zvoníčkovna worth visiting?

The reserve appeals to visitors interested in nature and botany who value quiet, uncrowded routes away from the main tourist trails. The combination of old deciduous forest and wet meadow within a small area means that several distinct habitats — and the varied flora associated with them, including a number of rare and protected species — can be observed within a short walk. Zvoníčkovna lies close to the village of Kornatice, making it an accessible destination for a short nature walk for anyone exploring this part of the Rokycany District.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Zvoníčkovna located? The reserve lies directly north of the village of Kornatice, in the Rokycany District, within the boundaries of the Kamínky Nature Park.

Why was this area protected? Mainly because of its mixed oak-hornbeam forest with well-preserved natural understory communities, together with a wet meadow of high floristic diversity.

What rare plants can be found in the reserve? Among others: spurge-laurel, cowslip, Solomon's seal, herb paris, lungwort, marsh helleborine, and common bistort.

Are there traces of past settlement in the reserve? Yes — in its northeastern part, the reserve borders the site of the former medieval village of Javor, and the reserve's wet meadow developed as a result of that settlement's presence.