White Carpathians - Protected Areas
BILE KARPATY PLA - LUHACOVICE
In 1980, a large area of this region of the Czech Republic bordering on Slovakia in the east was designated a Protected Landscape Area (PLA = CHKO in Czech). In 1996, due to its high biodiversity and cultural value, Bile Karpaty has become a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The Bile Karpaty (White Carpathians) PLA has become famous mainly for its extensive species-rich meadows which rank among areas with the highest species diversity in Europe. The largest meadow complexes can be found in the southern part of the PLA, in the Straznice region. Another interesting feature of the Bile Karpaty landscape is its orchards with a great range of old fruit tree varieties, some of which have been concentrated in the genepool orchard at the Zahrady pod Hajem National Nature Reserve at Velka nad Velickou. However, as part of the Carpathian Mountain Range, the Bile Karpaty area also offers an opportunity to see some native Carpathian close-to-nature beech forests – e.g. in the Vlara Pass or around Velka Javorina, the highest peak of Bile Karpaty.
White Carpathian Beech forest
Orchid maedow in White Carpathian mountains
spa colonnade in Luhacovice
The town of Luhacovice is a popular spa resort, the largest one in the Moravia region of the Czech Republic. As a result of geological processes, the local mineral springs are an important part of the natural heritage in the Bile Karpaty PLA. The water from the local springs is used to cure mainly respiratory and digestive complaints. Luhacovice is also the seat of the Bile Karpaty Protected Landscape Area Administration.
Contact
Vzdělávací a informační středisko Bílé Karpaty, o.p.s.
Marie Petrů
Bartolomějské náměstí 47, 698 01 Veselí nad Moravou
Tel.:518 322 545
e-mail:visbk@bilekarpaty.cz
http://bilekarpaty.cz/vis
