Národná prírodná rezervácia Devínska Kobyla
The Devínska Kobyla National Nature Reserve is located in the Bratislava Region, between the city districts of Devín and Devínska Nová Ves. Its territory covers an area of 101.12 ha as part of the Devínska Kobyla Site of Community Importance (with an area of 643 ha, belonging to the Malé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area). At the same time, the area is included in the NATURA 2000 network. A highly significant part of the area is the Štokerská vápenka nature reserve and the Sandberg paleontological site.
Formation and history of the Devínska Kobyla area
The territory has a long and rich history. The first settlements appeared here as early as the Neolithic period, around 5000 BC. Later, the highly important commercial Amber Road passed through here. Subsequently, the Celts entered the region and cleared the original vegetation. During AD, the Romans took control and established vineyards here. The area served as a fortress for Prince Rastislav during the Great Moravian Empire and witnessed battles against the Turks as well as the Napoleonic Wars. Until the mid-20th century, the area was mainly grazed by livestock, after which the meadows became overgrown with bushes and woody plants.
Devínska Kobyla is one of the parts of the western projection of the Carpathian arc, which is often referred to as a treasure trove of diverse geological phenomena. In its cross-section, we can find granite, as well as portions of limestone and dolomite. The area underwent various folding processes, erosion, and marine wave abrasion, resulting, for example, in a rock window or an abrasion cave. Between 14 and 16 million years ago, Devínska Kobyla was a rocky limestone coast of the Badenian Sea. This is evidenced by the Sandberg site, where fossils of about 350 animal species have been found.
The Sandberg site was discovered during sand mining for the needs of the Devínska Nová Ves brickworks. During the Tertiary period, this area was at times a cliff, at times part of a coastal island system, but also the seabed of the Tethys Ocean. Rich life flourished here, resulting in the fossil sites found today. Notable finds include gastropods, bivalves, sea urchins, shark teeth, and various bones—for example, from seals, rhinoceroses, bears, reptiles, moles, and Tertiary whales. Unique finds include the remains of Tertiary Pliopithecus (a distant human ancestor) and the teeth of Dryopithecus (an anthropoid ape).
Fauna and flora of the Devínska Kobyla reserve
The fauna of the Devínska Kobyla National Nature Reserve is richly represented by various animal species. Gastropods (such as Zebrina detrita, Chondrina clienta) can be found here in both xerophilic and thermophilic varieties. Be careful not to step on them. Insects (such as the European mantis or Saga pedo) are perhaps the most significant component of the surrounding fauna. Interestingly, only females of Saga pedo occur here in Slovakia; their reproduction occurs through unfertilized eggs. You will find more than 600 species of butterflies here (such as the Old World swallowtail or the Clouded Apollo). Beetles are also numerously represented (such as the stag beetle or Scarabaeus typhon), many of which are rare and protected. Vertebrates are also abundant here, represented by reptiles (such as the European green lizard or grass snakes) and amphibians (such as the European green toad or frogs). Avifauna is typical of the Bratislava region (such as goldfinches or tits), but we can also spot many rare species (such as the common kestrel or common buzzard). It is not unusual to encounter mammals as well, such as the red deer or roe deer, but also the wild boar or red fox.
The flora of the Devínska Kobyla National Nature Reserve has fascinated botanists since ancient times; Carolus Clusius was already exploring it in the 16th century. The southern part of the territory is mostly covered by grassy steppe with thermophilic grasses (such as Festuca rupicola) and many protected flowers (such as spring pheasant's eye or pasqueflower). Shallow soils formed by erosion are covered, for example, by rock buckthorn or feather grass. Their ability to bind and protect soil from erosion is highly valuable. The sandy slopes are dominated by the protected iris or the steppe relic Gypsophila fastigiata. Gullys are characterized by thermophilic shrubs (such as Mahaleb cherry or the protected European cornelian cherry) as well as rare orchids from the Orchidaceae family.
Just a stone's throw from the big city into nature
The area offers rich hiking opportunities that attract many visitors every year in all seasons. Marked hiking trails will take you to Weitov lom, Devín Castle, as well as through Úzky les to the Bratislava city district of Dúbravka or through Líščie údolie to the Bratislava city district of Karlova Ves. There, it is well worth visiting the Bratislava Zoo or the Bratislava Botanical Garden. Get inspired by other trip options offered on the website attraction of Bratislava.
Book your accommodation near the Devínska Kobyla National Nature Reserve, for example on the websites accommodation Bratislava Devínska Nová Ves or accommodation Bratislava Devín. The unique atmosphere of the reserve will engulf you, and you won't even realize you are actually in a busy capital city. Come here to let go of all work stress as well as the anxieties or fears troubling you. Soak up the power of nature, listen to the birds singing, and smell the colorful flowers. Spending time in nature is therapy for the soul, and even an easy hike is therapy for the body. So why not treat yourself? We wish you a pleasant stay.
