POST-CONFERENCE EXCURSIONS

 

EXCURSION NO 1                                                                                                   7th September 2010

The Bohemian Karst Protected Landscape Area and Karlštejn Castle

Guides:
Tomáš Chuman, Charles University in Prague
Tomáš Tichý, The Bohemian Karst PLA

This excursion will show you one of the most beautiful protected landscape area, that is unique not only within the Czech Republic but also within Europe, and you will end the trip by visiting gothic castle built as a place for safekeeping the royal treasures (collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Roman Empire).  

The Bohemian Karst undoubtedly represents on of the most diverse landscape in Europe. It is world famous for its geology and stratigraphy of Silurian and Devonian periods. For example many fossils were described by famous French geologist Joachim Barrande from this area. From biological point of view it is a place of outstanding biodiversity value as a result of karst and river phenomena. Besides zonal vegetation we find here extensive areas of rocky steppe and forest steppe thus various floristic and faunistic elements meet together in the area often being found nowhere else in Bohemia. Even though the area is of outstanding natural and cultural value it was not saved from economic exploitation of limestone being a conflict between economical interests and nature protection.

On the trip you should be delivered information on nature value of the Bohemian karst, you will come to know unique biotopes and their management and finally you will hear and see some of the Czech history.    

Please note: This excursion will start in Brno and finish in Prague.  

                               

 

EXCURSION NO 2                                                                                                   7th September 2010

Průhonice park – UNESCO protected area & suburban zone of Prague

Guides:
Martin Ouředníček or Petra Puldová, Charles University in Prague
Jiří Velebil & Markéta Šantrůčková, The Silva Tarouca Research Institute for landscape and Ornamental Gardening, Průhonice

The park of Průhonice – UNESCO protected area belongs to the most beautiful spots in the outskirts of Prague. Park was founded in 1885 by Count Arnošt Emanuel Silva-Tarouca, a Portuguese amateur botanist, who transformed monotonous agricultural landscape into supreme example of ornamental landscaping. Today, several thousand varieties of trees and bushes grow there, including a vast collection of rhododendrons. It is tastefully laid out over some 250 hectares, with pathways, creeks, bridges, several ponds and an alpinum. Whole area of the park is also important sanctuary for several animal species, since majority of Prague surroundings is under big pressure of the process of urban sprawl.

On the second part of the excursion you could see some examples of the impact of suburbanization on landscape character and local communities in the municipalities of Jesenice and Dolní Břežany. The worst and the best practices will be introduced by experienced professionals in social geography and landscape ecology. There will be possibility to visit Prague individually in the late afternoon.

Please note: This excursion will start in Brno and finish in Prague.