White Carpathians - Protected Areas
BILE KARPATY PLA - STRAZNICE
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 here, in the southern part of the PLA. Another interesting feature of the landscape here is its orchards with a great range of old fruit tree varieties. 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 in the north or around Velka Javorina, the highest peak of Bile Karpaty (970m), some 20km north of Straznice.
White Carpathian Beech forest
Orchid maedow in White Carpathian mountains
In the town of Straznice, one of the gateways to the Bile Karpaty PLA, there are a number of places connected with the local cultural and historical heritage: the open-air museum of traditional architecture (Skanzen), some remains of the town fortification, the Jewish cemetery and synagogue, and the local castle. At the last weekend in June, the town hosts the annual Straznice International Folklore Festival, one of the most well-known events promoting traditional culture in Europe.
Decoration of traditional architecture in Starznice
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
