Lasek Miejski nad Puńcówką Nature Reserve

The Lasek Miejski nad Puńcówką Nature Reserve is a forest complex in Cieszyn that protects spring sites of the Cieszyn primrose and a natural oak-hornbeam forest. It was established in 1961 and covers 7.74 hectares. It lies right by the town centre, on the right bank of the Olza valley.

What the reserve protects

The reserve was created to protect the population of the Cieszyn primrose and an oak-hornbeam forest with ash, oak, hornbeam, lime, maples and elms. Today a foothill elm and ash forest dominates, which in Poland has been recorded only in the Cieszyn Foothills. The flora comprises 184 species of vascular plants, among them the protected alpine arum, martagon lily and snowdrop. The Cieszyn primrose grows most densely in the southern part, in the best preserved fragment of the forest.

City park and walk

The reserve lies between 3 Maja, Kraszewskiego and Błogocka streets and Aleja Jana Łyska, and the Puńcówka stream and the Młynówka channel flow through it. In the northern part it serves as a city park, and at the highest point stands the monument to Mieszko, the first ruler of the Duchy of Cieszyn. The green walking route around Cieszyn passes through here.

Cieszyn has a second reserve as well: Lasek Miejski nad Olzą.

Practical information

• Location: Cieszyn, between 3 Maja, Kraszewskiego and Błogocka streets.
• This is a reserve, so nature protection restrictions apply: check them on the boards at the entrances.