Address : Administration of Blanský Forest Nature Reserve Vyšný 59 Český Krumlov 381 01   Telephone : +420 380 716 618 Fax : +420 380 711 249 E-mail : schkobll@ck.ipex.cz blanles@schkocr.cz

Geographical conditions
The Blanský Forest Nature Reserve was declared in 1990. It has an area of 212,35 km2. A major part of it belongs to the Český Krumlov district, a smaller part to the districts of České Budějovice and Prachatice. It is a very well preserved area in the lower parts of the Šumava with many valuable localities.

Blanský Forest is a highland with its peak Kleť Mountain 1084 m above sea level.

Forming its geological base are mainly metamorphosed rocks, mostly granulite. Also important are serpentines and crystalic calcite, which result in the occurence of specific soils and plant species growing on them. The southeast border is created by the Vltava River. Its canyon lies 400 m above sea level. The highlands have the shape of a horse-shoe opening at the south-east. The Křemžský stream forms the axis of the highlands. It flows through a wide valley, and it joins the river Vltava under the ruin of the Castle Dívčí Kámen.

Fauna and flora
The original plant coverage of Blanský Forest was created by beeches. In the process of colonisation they were cut down, and in the past two centuries replaced by cultivated forests of spruces and pine trees. The beeches still cover quite extensive areas, and they are deliberately grown mainly on the northern slopes. You may also find fir trees occasionally growing between them.

The beech tree forests are a condition for the existence of some animal and plant species. We can find swiit woodruff, rattlesnake root Prenanthes purpurea, yellow archangel (Galeobdolon luteum), mezereon (Daphne mezereum), herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia) and many others. The major bird species are woodpigeion, hazel grouse, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher. The primeval forests situated on serpentines, appearing only in small areas, are zoologically and botanically interesting, and specially protected.

Natural preserves
There are 15 natural preserves (Vyšenské kopce, Kleť, Dívčí Kámen, Kalamandra, Bořinka, Holubovské hadce, Jaronínská bučina, Vysoká Běta, Šimečkova stráň, Dobročovské hadce, Na stráži, Horní Luka, Mokřad u Borského rybníka, Malá skála, Ptačí stěna).

Educational paths
The administration of the Blanský Forest Nature Reserve maintains the educational path leading through the National Preserve Vyšenské Hills. The path symbolically starts at the building of the administration of the PA in Vyšné. It has two branches. The first one starts and ends in Vyšné, the second continues to the railway station in Český Krumlov. The path is intended only for pedestrians, it is 2,5 km long and there are 14 stops. Further information can be obtained from the guide book NP Vyšenské kopce.
The administrative body of the Protected Landscape Area Blanský les has prepared a tourist trail Třísov - Dívčí Kámen - Holubov for you through the area where the Křemžský creek joins the Vltava (Moldau) river. Since prehistoric times, apart from its natural landmarks, the territory has also been the focus of a number of human activities

Historical monuments
Apart from the natural monuments, Blanský Forest is also rich in historical monuments and folk architecture. The most important is the Cistercian Monastery Zlatá Koruna with the church dating from the 13th century, then the ruin of the Rosenberg castle Dívčí Kámen, and the remains of the unfinished late Gothic monastery in Kuklov. The celtic oppidium near Třísov is also very interesting (Archeological Research in the Český Krumlov Region). The village Holašovice is outstanding for its folk architecture.

Activities of the Administration of the Blanský Forest Nature Reserve
The Administration of the PA deals with special tasks in the area connected with its administration and specialist activities. The main target of the Administration of the PA is controlling the forest and land agricultural activities, land planning and building, and other activities to ensure that they cause no damage to the natural heritage.

The Administration of the PA has worked out a basic strategy document "Plan of care of the Blanský Forest Nature Reserve" for the years 1997 - 2006, where it states the protection and care of the PA.

The Administration of the PA provides for the care of the most valuable parts of the Area (mainly Reservations and first protective zones) according to the above mentioned plan. It also carries out basic nature research of the area, is responsible for and co-ordinates land-ecological researches, and supports these activities.

The Administration of the PA also completes many projects concerning the revitalization of the river systems. The project Revitalisation of the stream Borová was awarded a prize in the competition Ecological Project of the Year 1996 (the revitalisation will begin in 1998).

The Administration of the PA provides ecological education and works with the public, in the area covering its rights and responsibilities.

On the 5th of June 1998, on the occasion of the "Day of the Environment", there was an exhibition opened at the lookout tower on Kleť Mountain, which was targeted on the natural and scientific values of the PA Blanský Forest and Kleť Mountain.

Further information :
Description of Natural Conditions in the Český Krumlov Region
Exposition - Cultural and Natural Significance of Kleť Mountain