Novodomské rašeliniště is one of the most remarkable peat bog reserves in the Ore Mountains (Krušné hory), tucked away between Hora Svatého Šebestiána and Kalek near the German border. It's a place where dwarf pines, boggy forests and open moorland create scenery that feels almost arctic in character.

Sitting at 778-838 metres above sea level, the reserve was formed by the merging of three separate peat bogs - the Jezerní rašeliniště, Načetínské rašeliniště, and the area known as Vlčina. In summer the open bogs come alive with round-leaved sundew and bog rosemary, while autumn paints the landscape in deep russet tones. Winters are long and snowy, with snow cover lasting up to 140 days a year, giving the place a hushed, wild feel. It's also an important refuge for black grouse and Tengmalm's owl, so silence and slow walking are the order of the day.

How to get there

• Hora Svatého Šebestiána - red-marked trail towards Zákoutí, running along the southern edge of the reserve, moderate difficulty
• Načetín - follow the road to Pohraniční along the northwestern boundary, blue-marked trail, easier option

Practical information

• The core of the reserve is barely accessible and rarely visited - marked trails only skirt the edges
• The area lies within a Natura 2000 bird protection zone - stay on marked paths at all times
• The peat bogs are extremely fragile ecosystems, so off-trail walking is not permitted

A curious detail: the dwarf mountain pine growing here likely forms the largest stand of its kind in the whole of the Czech Republic.