Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area (Chráněná krajinná oblast Litovelské Pomoraví)
Olomoucký kraj
Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Litovelské Pomoraví) protects a large stretch of the Morava River floodplain north of Olomouc, with the town of Litovel at its center. The area’s ecological core is the naturally meandering Morava River, whose branching channels create a complex network of permanent and temporary river arms-an anastomosing river system. These floodplain forests have long acted as a vast natural retention area, catching and storing floodwater and helping protect nearby settlements including Litovel and Olomouc. West of Litovel, the floodplain transitions into the scenic Nové Zámky landscape, noted for a group of small, romantically styled buildings arranged in the 19th century. Distinct landmarks here include the Obelisk, the artificial ruins known as Rytířské síně, the Přátelství Church, and the artificial Podkova cave. A striking natural feature is Třesín hill, a calcareous ridge that drops sharply toward the Morava floodplain. Its Devonian limestone is strongly karsted, enabling the development of an extensive cave system associated with the Mladeč Caves. The same geology also produced a notable “buried karst” phenomenon within the floodplain. In the north, the floodplain forest connects to the larger Doubravy area of hilly beech-oak and oak-hornbeam woods extending toward Úsov Castle.
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Astuce: Because this is an active floodplain, conditions can change quickly after heavy rain-check local guidance and be prepared for muddy or waterlogged paths. If you want to see the river’s branching channels at their most atmospheric, consider visiting in cooler seasons when leaf cover is lower and views into the floodplain forest open up. Combine a walk in the Nové Zámky area with viewpoints around Třesín hill for a mix of cultural landscape features and geology in one outing. If you plan to visit the Mladeč cave system, look up current access rules and opening times in advance, as cave visits are typically regulated.
Faits intéressants
- •The protected landscape area covers about 96 km² and was established on 15 November 1990.
- •Its ecological backbone is the naturally meandering Morava River, forming an anastomosing system of permanent and temporary river arms.
- •Floodplain forests here have acted as a large natural polder, storing floodwater and helping protect settlements including Olomouc and Litovel.
- •Třesín hill is formed of strongly karsted Devonian limestone, linked to the development of the Mladeč cave system.
- •The floodplain contains a geological phenomenon described as “buried karst.”
Histoire
The Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area was established on 15 November 1990 to protect the Morava River floodplain and its associated habitats.
In the Middle Ages, repeated flooding led Hanakian farmers to build a ring of dikes along the boundary where floodplain forest met agricultural land.
Over time, the floodplain forests continued to function as a natural polder, retaining floodwater and reducing damage to surrounding villages and the nearby cities of Olomouc and Litovel.
In the 19th century, the landscape west of Litovel around Nové Zámky was enriched with a set of small romantic buildings and features.
Guide du lieu
Morava River anastomosing channels
Seek out places where the Morava splits into multiple arms and side channels; this branching network is central to the area’s ecology and explains why the floodplain forest functions as a natural water-retention system during floods.
Litovel (gateway town)
Litovel lies in the center of the protected landscape area and is the place from which the CHKO takes its name, making it a natural base for exploring the floodplain.
Nové Zámky romantic landscape features19th century
West of Litovel, explore the picturesque Nové Zámky area with its tastefully arranged 19th-century romantic structures and follies set within the landscape.
Třesín hill calcareous ridge
Visit Třesín hill for a dramatic geological contrast: a limestone ridge that drops sharply into the Morava floodplain, illustrating how geology shapes the surrounding landscape.
Karst and the Mladeč cave system
The strongly karsted Devonian limestone around Třesín enabled the formation of a complex cave system associated with the Mladeč Caves, alongside the unusual “buried karst” phenomenon in the floodplain.
Doubravy woods toward Úsov Castle
In the northern part of the CHKO, the floodplain forest connects to the larger Doubravy area of hilly beech-oak and oak-hornbeam woods reaching toward Úsov Castle.