Search

The aim of the study is to assess the potential of tourism in the Novohradské Mountains and the Gratzen Mountains on the borderland of the Czech Republic and Austria, with a focus on geotourism. A partial objective was to evaluate the accompanying infrastructure in the background of geomorphologically attractive localities, especially the accessibility of the area by means of hiking trails and accommodation facilities. Five geomorphosites in the Czech Republic and four geomorphosites in Austria were examined for characteristics and relationships. The overall density of recreational routes is much higher on the Austrian side than on the Czech territory. Similarly, the use of car traffic, cycling and hiking on the Czech side is worse than on the Austrian side. The total number of beds is currently larger on the Czech side of the territory. However, beds on the Czech side are located in smaller accommodation capacities, which experienced unprecedented development after 1989, especially with the possibility of visiting previously unavailable territory. On the Austrian side of the territory, the larger bed capacity is concentrated in hotel complexes focusing on wellness and balneology; this is mainly due to the undisturbed, long-term development of the territory and the greater purchasing power of Austrian citizens. At a distance of up to 5 km and within 10 km of the geomorphosites, there are significantly larger accommodation capacities on the Czech side of the territory. In a wider area within 15 km, the accommodation capacities in both territories are similar. This is due to the location of geomorphosites in Austria, which are located in more central and interesting parts of the mountainous area, far from settlements. The availability of accommodation facilities in the wider area combined with other attractions has great potential for multi-day stays in the region.

The Pohořska Mountains, a geomorphological subunit of the Novohradske Mountains in the southern part of the Bohemian Massif, represent a unique natural area situated on the border between the Czech Republic and Austria. The area was virtually inaccessible during the Cold War because of its localization close to the Iron Curtain. After 1989, the extensive geomorphological mapping with an emphasis on rock landforms has been carried out here in order to achieve increased protection status of this geomorphologically diverse area. In this study, we ask what geological and geomorphological conditions support the diversity of rock landforms in the Pohořska Mountains. The diversity of rock landforms in hexagonal grid cells (ca. 1 ha) was expressed as the number of rock-landform types and using the Shannon diversity index. The effects of lithology, slope, orientation, elevation, and relief curvature on the diversity of rock landforms were analysed using the Classification and Regression Trees. This analysis showed that the highest diversity occurs in grid cells with high mean relief curvature, elevation, and steep slopes. These conditions are met, especially on the summits of the highest peaks and their surroundings in the northern and southern part of the studied area. We conclude that this area deserves increased protection status because of its high geomorphological diversity.

The study locality of Mt. Myslivna within the Novohradske hory Mts. (Czech Republic) represents an area which had restricted access prior to 1989. Detailed geomorphological inventory carried out in years 2002–2010 revealed prominent rock landforms developed within late Variscan, Weinsberg-type granite. Destructive as well as accumulative rock landforms were mapped with the use of GPS and include two cryoplanation platform, three frost-riven cliffs, three tors, two low exfoliation domes, two castle koppies, two blockfields, one relic of tor and smaller forms, such as rock ledges and laths. A distinct fissure system that shapes the rock relief consists of two sets of fissures: The primary set is formed by dominant fissures with NE-SW orientation accompanied by fissures with NW-SE orientation; the secondary set comprises of fissures oriented in ENE-WSW and NNW-SSE directions. The north-western slopes of Mt. Myslivna were declared a natural monument in 1992 due to natural beech woodland vegetation. However, the extent of the protected area does not include qualitatively as well as quantitatively the unique rock landforms on the southern slopes of Mt. Myslivna. Therefore, this research led to declaration of this site as a ‘Geomorphologically Significant Locality’ (Geomorphosite) in 2010. In addition, a proposal for extension of the natural monument boundary has been submitted.

Geomorphological mapping with an emphasis on rock landforms was carried out in the Pohořská Mountains (Cz. Pohořská hornatina) and the positional data acquired were further processed using statistical and cartographical methods. The spatial distribution of rock landforms was investigated in relation to lithology, slope, orientation, and elevation based on an analysis using ArcGIS 9.1. The spatial distribution of rock landforms was primarily determined by the index of distribution Wij = Xi / Yj, where Xi is the percentage representation of landforms in the appropriate category and Yj is the percentage quotient of this category in the entire area studied, and wassecondarily determined according to the sum (sum distribution) of the arithmetic mean and the average deviation.