Železné hory Protected Landscape Area
Chráněná krajinná oblast Železné hory
Bicycle friendly
Explore the dramatic geological formations, deep forests, and diverse ecosystems of Železné hory Protected Landscape Area, offering extensive trails, historical sites, and unique wildlife in the Czech Republic.

📜 A protected landscape area in the Czech Republic, renowned for its dramatic geological formations and diverse ecosystems.
🏞️ Features deep forests, river valleys, and historical sites like Lichnice Castle ruins, offering a rich blend of nature and history.

Why Go

🚶‍♀️ Explore numerous trails for hiking and cycling, including specific routes like the 77 km Geological Points of Interest, 45 km Cycling to the Dams, and a 12 km hike to Lichnice Castle ruins.
🌳 Discover wild forests, peat meadows with orchids, sunny slopes with gentians, old orchards, and the ancient Polom primeval forest.
🦅 Observe diverse wildlife including black storks, trout, over 75 mollusc species, 1200 butterfly species, and 283 vertebrate species.
🏰 Visit the romantic ruins of Lichnice Castle and explore other historical sites like Celtic oppidum remains and medieval castles.
⛷️ Enjoy winter sports with two ski slopes and lifts available.

Why Avoid

⚠️ Polom Nature Reserve Trail Rerouting (May 2023 - 2033): The green tourist trail has been rerouted away from the Polom Nature Reserve (Prales Polom) due to high risk of falling dead trees after a bark beetle infestation. Visitors are asked not to enter the nature reserve for their safety.
🚫 Lichnice National Nature Reserve: Entry is prohibited outside marked tourist trails year-round due to nesting protected bird species and increased risk of falling trees from the no-intervention regime.

Managed By

🏛️ Managed by Správa CHKO Železné hory (Administration Office).
📚 Offers guided excursions for schools and the public on topics like botany, nature conservation, landscape changes, and zoology.

Hours

⏰ Administration Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday: 8:00–17:00.

Geography & Geology

⛰️ Established in 1991, covering 284 km² with highest peaks Vestec and Spálava.
🌍 Boasts the most complex geological structure in Europe, forming part of the Geopark Železné hory.
🏞️ Features a dramatic fault ridge with numerous peaks and ravines, including the largest and most beautiful Lovětínská and Hedvíkovská ravines.
🌊 Includes the rocky Doubrava river valley and the popular Seč reservoir with Oheb nature reserve and castle ruins.

Protected Areas

🌳 Home to 27 small protected areas, including 1 national nature reserve, 15 nature reserves, and 10 natural monuments.
🌲 Highlights include Polom Nature Reserve with its former beech-fir primeval forests, and Lichnice National Nature Reserve with untouched forests.
🌰 Visit Kaštanka, an edible chestnut orchard in Nasavrky.

Tags
protected landscape areanaturehikingcyclingoutdoorgeologyforestwildlifehistorical ruins