Pálava Landscape Protected Area
Encyclopedia
The Pálava Landscape Protected Area is a landscape protected area and UNESCO biosphere reserve
located in the South Moravian Region
of the Czech Republic
, on the border with Austria
. This unique area was originally recognized by UNESCO
in 1986 and expanded in 2003 to include another UNESCO site, the Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape
. CHKO Pálava is dominated by the limestone Pálava Hills (part of the outer Western Carpathians
), and contains a significant proportion of natural or little affected steppe
ecosystems that include meadow steppe, forest steppe, and thermophilic oak forest. In the floodplain of the river Thaya
, forests alternate with meadows and wetland habitat that also include halophytic vegetation. The remaining part of CHKO Pálava is used agriculturally, with many sustainably farmed vineyards that are a part of the vinařská podoblast (wine subregion) Mikulovská
. CHKO Pálava contains well-preserved monuments of historical significance, such as the Paleolithic
site in Dolní Věstonice
where the Venus of Dolní Věstonice
, a ceramic Venus figurine dating to 29,000–25,000 BCE, was discovered. Mikulov
, a picturesque town settled in the middle ages
, is located in the southernmost part of CHKO Pálava, and contains buildings of historical and architectural significance, such as Mikulov Castle
.
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
located in the South Moravian Region
South Moravian Region
South Moravian Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia, with exception of Jobova Lhota, that belongs to Bohemia. Its capital is Brno the 2nd largest city of the Czech Republic. The region is famous for its wine...
of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, on the border with Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. This unique area was originally recognized by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in 1986 and expanded in 2003 to include another UNESCO site, the Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape
Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape
The Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape is a cultural-natural complex of 283,09 km² in the Czech Republic, South Moravian Region, close to Břeclav and Mikulov....
. CHKO Pálava is dominated by the limestone Pálava Hills (part of the outer Western Carpathians
Western Carpathians
The Western Carpathians are a mountain range and geomorphological province that forms the western part of the Carpathian Mountains.The mountain belt stretches from the Low Beskids range of the Eastern Carpathians along the border of Poland with Slovakia toward the Moravian region of the Czech...
), and contains a significant proportion of natural or little affected steppe
Steppe
In physical geography, steppe is an ecoregion, in the montane grasslands and shrublands and temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biomes, characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes...
ecosystems that include meadow steppe, forest steppe, and thermophilic oak forest. In the floodplain of the river Thaya
Thaya
The Thaya is a river in Central Europe, tributary to the Morava River. It is about 235 km long and meanders from west to east in the border area between Lower Austria and South Moravia , but does not exactly follow the border in most parts...
, forests alternate with meadows and wetland habitat that also include halophytic vegetation. The remaining part of CHKO Pálava is used agriculturally, with many sustainably farmed vineyards that are a part of the vinařská podoblast (wine subregion) Mikulovská
Mikulovská wine
Mikulovská is one of four Czech wine regions within southern Moravia, Czech Republic. The Mikulovská wine region, containing 30 wine villages, is famed for producing white wines grown in the limestone soils, particularly in and around the area of the Pálava Landscape Protected Area...
. CHKO Pálava contains well-preserved monuments of historical significance, such as the Paleolithic
Paleolithic
The Paleolithic Age, Era or Period, is a prehistoric period of human history distinguished by the development of the most primitive stone tools discovered , and covers roughly 99% of human technological prehistory...
site in Dolní Věstonice
Dolní Vestonice (archaeology)
Dolní Věstonice refers to an archaeological site near village Dolní Věstonice in the Czech Republic. The site is unique in that it has been a particularly abundant source of prehistoric artifacts dating from the Gravettian period, which spanned roughly 27,000 to 20,000 B.C...
where the Venus of Dolní Věstonice
Venus of Dolní Vestonice
The Venus of Dolní Věstonice is a Venus figurine, a ceramic statuette of a nude female figure dated to 29,000–25,000 BCE , which was found at a Paleolithic site in the Moravian basin south of Brno.-Description:...
, a ceramic Venus figurine dating to 29,000–25,000 BCE, was discovered. Mikulov
Mikulov
Mikulov is a town in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic with a population of 7,608 . It is located directly on the border with Lower Austria. Mikulov is located at the edge of a hilly area and the three Nové Mlýny reservoirs...
, a picturesque town settled in the middle ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, is located in the southernmost part of CHKO Pálava, and contains buildings of historical and architectural significance, such as Mikulov Castle
Mikulov Castle
Mikulov Castle is situated in the town of Mikulov in South Moravia, Czech Republic. The castle stands on a place of historic Slavonic settlement, where since the end of the 13th century the original stone castle was erected. The present castle is the result of a reconstruction in 1719-1730 under...
.