Thayatal & Podyjí national parks

A common protection area

Along the Thaya, which forms the national border between Austria and the Czech Republic, two protection areas intertwine. On the Austrian side, you have the Thayatal National Park, which extends over 1,360 hectares in the transitional area between the Waldviertel and Weinviertel regions. On the Czech side, the protected area merges seamlessly into the 6,300-hectare Podyjí National Park. It is located between Znojmo and Vranov nad Dyjí in southern Moravia.

The political border is clearly pushed to the background here. What counts is nature, which has created a unique valley that is protected by both sides.

Podyjí National Park at a glance

The Podyjí National Park has existed since 1 July 1991 and is the smallest national park in the Czech Republic. For 40 kilometres, the Dyje River makes its way through the hilly country in the south-east of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, forming the canyon-like valley carved into the ground up to 220 metres deep. 152 bird species, 65 mammal species and 77 specially protected plant species make their home here, along with a number of other species.

Similar to the Austrian side, a near seamless view of beech, hornbeam and oak trees characterises the landscape here. But there are also one or two special sights that are unique to Podyjí.

The extensive heathland and steppe heath landscapes in the south-eastern part of the national park, which are also the largest in the whole of the Czech Republic, are particularly unique. The origin of these spaces can be traced back to deforestation of the original oak forests and subsequent grazing in the Middle Ages. Today they represent an important habitat for many rare plant and insect species.

Key data on the Podyjí National Park

The Czech National Park Podyjí covers 6,260 hectares.
  • Core zone: 2,220 ha
  • Care zone: 2,260 ha
  • Outer zone: 1,780 ha

Length of the Thaya river: 40 km
Forestation: 84%
Agricultural area: 9%

Cross-border
Two administrations - one protection area

The treaty on the cooperation of the national parks on both sides of the border was signed as far back as 1999. This stipulated that the two national park administrations would work to bring about a common protection area in the future.

Cooperation

The two neighbouring national parks Thayatal and Podyjí share the same natural area and since their existence have always endeavoured to coordinate the protection activities of their independent administrations in the best way possible. Regular meetings, joint projects and the unifying vision of conserving the natural and cultural heritage of the Thaya Valley are on the agenda.
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