Brdy Protected Landscape Area, Nature reserve in Plzeňský kraj, Czech Republic.
The Brdy Protected Landscape Area is a nature reserve spanning 345 square kilometers across forests, moors, peat bogs, wetlands, and rocky outcrops in the Plzeň region. The varied terrain creates different habitats suited to specific plants and animals throughout the protected zone.
The area functioned as a military training ground from 1927 to 2016, which accidentally protected its wild character by preventing settlement and development. When military use ended, the site was formally designated as a protected landscape to ensure its natural habitats remained intact.
The forested hills hold the legendary Velká Baba peak, where local tradition tells of a forest spirit named Fabián guarding a magical castle within the trees. These stories shape how visitors experience and connect with the landscape today.
The protected landscape has numerous marked trails and paths suitable for both hikers and cyclists to explore the natural environment. Wear appropriate footwear and check weather conditions before visiting, as the terrain includes boggy areas and wetlands that can be muddy or wet.
The House of Nature visitor center occupies a former hunting lodge called Tři trubky and features exhibits centered on meadow ants. This unexpected thematic focus reveals how these tiny creatures shape the grassland ecosystem in subtle but important ways.
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