Deštenské Pastviny is a small nature reserve tucked onto the slope of Deštenský kopec hill, where rare protected plants bloom in a peaceful corner of the Kokořínsko landscape. It's a spot for travelers who enjoy quiet nature discoveries away from the busy trails.
Covering just 1.86 hectares at 250-288 m above sea level, the reserve sits within a wooded region full of sandstone formations and the springs of the Liběchovka and Pšovka streams. The upper part of the slope is covered in forest, while the lower section opens into grassy meadows dotted with species such as pasqueflower, goldilocks aster, snowdrop windflower and fringed gentian. In late spring and summer the meadow bursts into color, and the rare mountain cicada can sometimes be heard among the grasses. In autumn and winter the site turns quiet and austere, appealing to those who enjoy solitude in nature.
How to get thereDespite its small size, this reserve hides remarkable biodiversity, including the presumably extinct hoverfly Pelecocera tricincta, making it a true rarity on the map of Czech nature.