Did you know Cholupicka Bazantnice was once a fishpond? We stand now before the Cholupicka Bazantnice Nature Monument a place rich in history and teeming with life. Established in 1982 this protected area safeguards a unique example of floodplain forest. It’s a haven for diverse flora and fauna a secret jewel nestled just southeast of Cholupice.
The Cholupicka Bazantnice Nature Monument isn’t just trees and shrubs. It’s a story of transformation. Originally a fishpond its purpose shifted to a pheasant farm hence the name Bazantnice meaning pheasant farm in Czech. Imagine the scene: pheasants strutting through the undergrowth the quiet splashing of water. Then nature reclaimed the space.
Today the Cholupicka Bazantnice Nature Monument is predominantly a mixed deciduous forest. Towering old oaks stand sentinel alongside graceful linden trees. Ash trees add their height and elegance while hornbeams and maples form a dense understory. Thorns hawthorn and buckthorn shrubs intertwine in the undergrowth creating a rich tapestry of plant life. Rare plants including spring snowflakes hollowroot corydalis and wood anemones add to the area’s unique botanical diversity. Two impressive ancient summer oaks stand guard at the southern edge of the area.
But the plant life is only half the story. The Cholupicka Bazantnice is a haven for a wealth of insects and animals. Ninety-nine species of moths have been recorded here including the rare swallowtail butterflies and other beautiful specimens. Birds such as woodpeckers owls and other songbirds find sanctuary in its branches. The water vole and wood mouse thrive in the undergrowth.
Notice the gentle slope. The area is part of the extensive Uhříněves Plateau. The underlying geology comprises shales and sandstones from the late Proterozoic era. The deep clay and loamy soils rich in brown earth are ideal for the thriving forest. In some areas they are waterlogged creating marshy areas. A small remnant of a former pond remains a testament to the area’s past.
Cholupicka Bazantnice Nature Monument is a place of peace and tranquility a place of remarkable biodiversity. It reminds us of nature’s resilience and the importance of preserving these precious green spaces within the urban landscape of Prague. Its history as a fishpond then a pheasant farm and now a protected nature reserve speaks volumes about our relationship with the natural world. Take a moment to breathe in the fresh air listen to the birdsong and appreciate the quiet beauty of Cholupicka Bazantnice.