Chloumek is a small but ecologically remarkable steppe reserve on the slope of Chlum hill, right next to the village of Bečov. If you enjoy places where a tiny patch of land hides an astonishing variety of rare plants and insects, this one is worth a detour.

The landscape here is sun-drenched and wild in its own quiet way — grassy steppe slopes roll gently down toward the valley, and in summer the whole area hums with heat-loving insects. The views aren't dramatic mountain panoramas, but the atmosphere of dry grasslands swaying in the breeze has its own charm, especially in spring and early summer when rare steppe flowers bloom.

How to get there

• From Bečov — head west on foot, about 1.75 km to the reserve, easy lowland walk
• From near the main summit of Chlum hill (259 m) — about 400 m to the southwest, easy trail

Good to know

• Protected since 1969 for its grassy steppe plant communities
• Home to rare feather grasses (including Stipa pulcherrima and Stipa tirsa), the stemless milkvetch, and purple mullein
• The site supports heat-loving insect species — please stick to marked paths to avoid damaging the delicate vegetation

Chloumek is one of the few surviving fragments of true steppe in the Czech Republic — a small enclave of wild nature that has held on through the decades.