Shadows lengthen across the Xaverovsky Haj. The air is still. The scent of oak and lime hangs heavy.
Welcome to the Xaverovsky Haj a nature monument in Prague. This is more than just a forest. It’s a living testament to history resilience and nature’s enduring power. For centuries this land has witnessed dramatic changes. It has seen villages rise and fall wars fought and peace settle.
Originally part of the Lower Počernice estate the Xaverovsky Haj was once owned by the Čejka family from Olbramovice. Later it passed through the hands of the Colloredo Swers Ehrenfeld Dohalský and Enis families. By the early to mid-19th century the Dercsenyi family owned the Lower Počernice estate including the Xaverovsky Haj. This continued until the first land reform.
The area wasn’t always a continuous forest. Several villages once dotted this landscape. The Thirty Years’ War brought destruction. The villages disappeared. Fields became forest. By 1840 only the eastern part of the forest was established. The rest was a mix of fields and scrub. A document from 1825 describes a wood called Haj near Lower Počernice. It was about 55 hectares providing fuel for the local community. It was managed as pastureland.
In the mid-20th century the Czech municipality bought the estate. Later the state took over. State forests managed the area. From 1998 onwards individual parcels of the forest were transferred to the city of Prague. By 2002 the entire forest was under city ownership.
The Xaverovsky Haj isn’t just about the past. It’s a dynamic place. A management plan actively shapes its future. Unwanted tree species like spruce are being replaced by native trees. Since 2004 a method called “crown thinning” has taken place. About one-third of less desirable trees are gradually removed. This increases sunlight reaching the forest floor. This accelerates the natural regeneration of oak trees from acorns. This approach is environmentally friendly and sustainable.
A surprising aspect is the large birch forest in the east. This birch forest resulted from birch seedlings colonizing a clearing. This happened during the state forestry management in the 1980s. The birch thrived outcompeting the originally planted trees. Now the effort is to support the remaining oak and beech trees to create a mixed forest rather than a monoculture of birch.
Today the Xaverovsky Haj is a treasured green space. It offers recreational opportunities. The area is popular for walking cycling and dog-walking. All the main forest paths have recently been repaired. The Xaverovsky Haj also serves as home to a rich variety of insects birds and mammals. It’s truly a place where history nature and recreation intertwine. As you continue your walk remember that this forest continues to grow change and adapt a living monument to time itself.