Lost in the rustling leaves of Karlické údolí’s ancient trees a forgotten melody drifts. This isn’t just any valley. This is Karlické údolí a natural reserve nestled in the Bohemian Karst. Established in 1972 it’s the third largest protected area within this stunning landscape.
Karlické údolí unfolds along the Berounka River a winding waterway carved into the Karštejn plateau. The Karlický stream meanders through it creating two distinct sections. The valley boasts mostly southwest facing slopes. A smaller portion faces northeast. Towering rock formations mark the upper edge of the left bank. Scattered throughout are small patches of dry grassland. These xerotermic habitats may be small but they are crucial. They provide a unique environment for plants and animals. One such significant area is Peluňkova stráň. This rocky steppe contrasts sharply with the surrounding forests.
Imagine a hidden world teeming with life. Karlické údolí is home to an incredible diversity of flora and fauna. Here you find critically endangered plants like the Austrian dragonhead and lily-leaved adenophora. These rare beauties share their space with a multitude of insects. Among them is the critically endangered green lizard.
The reserve isn’t only about delicate blooms and elusive reptiles. It’s also about ancient geological history. The bedrock originates from the Paleozoic era mainly acidic slates from the Ordovician period. Devonian limestones are also prevalent. Surprisingly there are no subterranean karst phenomena. But the valley does hold a treasure. Remnants of old mill cascades still exist in the stream. These are among the few surviving cascades in the Bohemian Karst.
The soils here are thin and stony especially on steeper slopes. This creates distinct habitats for various species. The dominant tree species is the oak hornbeam forest. Sometimes it’s intermixed with small-leaved lime trees field maples and the protected pubescent oak. These forests are mostly consistent with the area’s natural composition. However non-native species are slowly reducing their numbers thanks to careful forest management.
North-eastern slopes reveal a different story. Here we see calcareous forests with hornbeams. The undergrowth boasts sweet woodruff European wild ginger bird’s-nest orchid and broad-leaved helleborine. The latter while widespread in the Czech Republic is still considered endangered.
Warmer southern slopes are rich in diverse oak-hornbeam forests. Here you might spot the dogwood common privet field maple and even the deadly mezereum. The herbaceous layer includes ox-eye daisy peach-leaved bellflower and several other varieties. Martagon lilies and monkshood also thrive. The rare white cinquefoil and the critically endangered lily-leaved adenophora find ideal conditions in the damp oak-hornbeam forests.
The open areas support sun-loving and xerotermic species. These include Solomon’s seal purple orchid low sedge branched St Bernard’s lily mountain pennycress and various other wildflowers. The rocky steppes and outcrops offer perfect conditions for the Austrian dragonhead. Also found here is the pasque flower feather grass and other species that characterize these environments.
Karlické údolí is also a mycological treasure. Rare boletes such as Fechtner’s bolete and purple bolete can be found here. The reserve teems with invertebrate life. Extensive research on its molluscs has been conducted since 1940 revealing a great variety of species. Numerous beetle species are also present with a range of ecological tolerances from xerotermic to mountain types. The protected area also boasts rare moths such as the Tetanocentria ochraceella and the Pyrausta castalis found nowhere else in the Czech Republic.
Vertebrate diversity is also remarkable. Amphibians include common frogs and agile frogs. Green lizards are also present a remarkable and critically endangered species. Birds include the hoopoe honey buzzards woodcocks and even the great eagle owl. A rare species of bat the lesser horseshoe bat is found here making it the only such habitat in the Bohemian Karst.
Karlické údolí is more than just a natural reserve it’s a place where history and nature intertwine. Remnants of Karlik Castle founded by Charles IV stand as silent witnesses to the valley’s rich past. It’s a place of natural beauty scientific significance and a vibrant tapestry of life.