Bratislava Forest Park

Bratislava Forest Park

The Bratislava Forest Park is part of the Protected Landscape Area of the Malé Karpaty mountains. In its northern part there is an area of European importance Homoľské Karpaty, the subject of protection of which are several biotopes of European importance (Mixed ash-alder alluvial forests of temperate and Boreal Europe, Rupicolous calcareous or basophilic grasslands of the Alysso-Sedion albi, Sub-Pannonic steppic grasslands, Tilio-Acerion forests on slopes, screes and ravines, Pannonic woods with Quercus petraea and Carpinus betulus or Bog woodland).

On the southern edge of the Malé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area is the Železná studnička recreation area, through which the Vydrica stream flows. The territory of the Vydrica Nature Reserve is also rare with biotopes of European and national importance. Centuries ago, millers settled on the stream and built 9 mills. The water mills on the Vydrica disappeared at the end of the 19th century and continued to serve as tourist restaurants. The ninth mill and the eighth mill Klepáč are still the best preserved. Four artificial water reservoirs were a functional part of the mill system, which are now used for boating and fishing.

The harmony of technical buildings (mills, dams, a system of water reservoirs, forestry and fishery facilities) and forest biotopes made Železná studnička a unique environment, which became a popular meeting place for the inhabitants of the city and the surrounding area.

The Bratislava Forest Park is managed by the City Forests in Bratislava. Its main purpose is the recreation of the inhabitants in accordance with the principles of nature conservation. The aim of forest management is to provide a suitable environment for recreation while maximally supporting the ecological functions of the forest. By careful and targeted logging, foresters, in cooperation with conservationists, are gradually transforming economic forests into nature-friendly forests. The result should be forests with high recreational, aesthetic and conservation value. A network of marked hiking and cycling trails connects and makes accessible aesthetically valuable sites, natural formations, phenomena, monuments and scenery.

The forests are divided into three zones: Zone A – “Intensive Recreation Zone”

Zone B – “Recreation, Nature Conservation and Forestry Zone” and Zone C – “Nature Conservation and Recreation Zone” (Quiet Zone).

During the excursion, we will go through all three zones and the no-extraction areas in turn. As part of the expert interpretation, we will learn more about the management of the surrounding forest units and see the technical structures of the Vydrica valley.