Peklo u Nového Města nad Metují

Peklo u Nového Města nad Metují is a protected nature reserve covering around 319 hectares within the Metuje River valley. The landscape features mixed forests, rocky outcrops along the slopes, and a rich diversity of plant and animal communities.

The area received official protected status in 1997 to safeguard its ecological systems. This designation resulted from sustained efforts over many decades to preserve the natural landscape.

The wooden bridge across the Metuje is a distinctive feature that hikers often use as a meeting point along the trails. It serves as a focal point in the landscape where visitors naturally pass through and pause to take in the valley views.

The best time to visit is from spring through autumn when the trails are dry and easy to walk. Multiple marked routes into the reserve are accessible from Nové Město nad Metují on foot or by bike.

The valley maintains a cool microclimate that differs from surrounding areas, creating habitat conditions found nowhere else nearby. This supports rare species like black storks, spotted salamanders, and forest doves that depend on these specific thermal conditions.