Lánská obora, Nature reserve in Ruda, Czech Republic
Laner Tiergarten is a nature reserve near Ruda in the Czech Republic, enclosed by old stone walls and covering a mix of woodland and open meadows. The area is home to hoofed animals such as deer, wild boar, and mouflon, which move freely within the walls.
The area was set up in the 16th century as a private hunting ground for Austrian nobility and was originally enclosed with wooden fences. Over time these were replaced by stone walls, which still stand today.
The name 'Tiergarten' is an old German word for an enclosed animal park, a term once used widely across Central Europe. Visitors walking through the area can still see the old stone walls that mark the boundary of the former hunting ground.
The reserve is open year-round and can be entered through several access points along the stone walls. Wearing sturdy shoes is a good idea, as the paths cross through woodland and meadow terrain, and visiting in the early morning gives the best chance of spotting animals.
Although the area is now protected land, it functioned as a closed hunting ground for centuries, and the animals living there today are descended from those originally introduced by its noble owners. The stone walls that enclose the site are so well preserved that they give a clear sense of how the original enclosure looked.
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