Arba is a small but remarkably charming meadow in the floodplain of the Kamenice River, right by the village of Srbská Kamenice. It's the kind of place where time slows down - wet meadows full of rare plants and insects create a genuine pocket of calm on the edge of Bohemian Switzerland.

The reserve's landscape is a mosaic of wetlands, springs and damp meadows framed by sandstone rocks. In spring you'll find spring snowflakes and orchids in bloom, in summer clouds of dragonflies hover above the grass, and in autumn the whole valley turns golden. Above the meadow rises a rock with a lookout point, from which the entire reserve and the village below unfold like a bird's-eye map - well worth the short detour.

How to get there

• Janská or Srbská Kamenice — yellow trail, easy hike, suitable for most visitors
• The trail continues onward toward Růžovský vrch, so you can combine the visit with a longer walk

Practical information

• The area falls under the administration of Bohemian Switzerland National Park - stay on marked trails
• Protected species here include over 15 dragonfly species and marsh frogs among other wetland-dependent wildlife
• Late spring to early summer is the best time to see the meadow flowers in bloom

A fun fact: this small patch of meadow is home to more than 15 dragonfly species, making it a true paradise for insect lovers and nature photographers alike.