Picture a river that was never tamed by human hands - twisting, curling back on itself and forming still, deep oxbow pools like quiet little lakes. That's exactly what awaits you at the Ploučnice River Meanders near Mimoň, a protected nature reserve in the Liberec Region where the river still flows through its original, unregulated channel.

The atmosphere here is calm and contemplative - flat terrain along the water, dense wetland vegetation and a sense of stepping into a slower, wilder rhythm of nature. In spring and summer you'll spot dragonflies and butterflies skimming the surface, autumn paints the reeds golden, and winter brings a hushed stillness over the whole valley. The reserve sits between the villages of Boreček and Ploužnice, wedged between two roads connecting Mimoň with Hradčany airfield.

• Mimoň - walking or cycling route along the river, approx. 30-45 minutes, easy, flat terrain
• Boreček - alternative starting point from the south, also an easy route following the riverbank

• This is a protected nature reserve - stay on marked paths and avoid disturbing the vegetation
• The area forms part of the larger Natura 2000 site Horní Ploučnice
• Protected species live here, including the Eurasian otter and rare dragonflies - keep noise and disturbance to a minimum

Interesting fact: young Atlantic salmon occasionally pass through these waters on their long migration from the upper river down to the sea - a rare sight for this part of Europe.