Tuhaň – Elbe Cycle Route, Floodplain Landscapes and Sandy Grasslands

Tuhaň between the Elbe Cycle Route and sandy landscapes

Tuhaň is an old village in the Polabí region near the right bank of the Labe. The settlement lies on slightly elevated, firm ground, while the surrounding area is characterized by sandy, loose and relatively infertile soils. Firm village ground, sandy sites and river floodplains form different landscape areas around Tuhaň: its proximity to the Labe connects the village with a floodplain-dominated river landscape, while the sandy areas have a distinctly different character.

River landscape and protected habitats

One important natural area in Tuhaň is the Úpor-Černínovsko Nature Reserve. It extends along both banks of the Labe between Neratovice and Mělník. The reserve protects floodplain forests, floodplain meadows and oxbow lakes, as well as natural eutrophic, meaning nutrient-rich, waters and extensively mown lowland meadows. Particularly protected plant and animal species are also found there. Oxbow lakes are former river channels that no longer form part of the main river. The area therefore includes both water-dominated habitats and meadows and woodland areas connected with the river landscape.

At the eastern edge of Tuhaň lies the Písčina u Tuhaně Natural Monument. It covers approximately 0.43 hectares and has been protected since 2007 because of its exceptionally well-preserved sandy grassland communities. Sandy grassland communities are plant communities associated with open, nutrient-poor sandy sites. The typical plant communities found there include the Thero-Airion and Corynephorion canescentis alliances. Typical plants are the sand plantain (Plantago arenaria) and grey hair-grass (Corynephorus canescens). The small protected area thus represents the sandy and nutrient-poor part of the landscape, which contrasts with the wet floodplain areas along the Labe. Part of the Úpor-Černínovou European Site extends into the cadastral territory of Tuhaň.

Cycle route, circular trail and cultural events

The Elbe Cycle Route, Labská cyklotrasa No. 24, runs directly through Tuhaň. The Tuhaň Educational Trail, Naučná stezka Tuhaň, starts and ends as a circular route in the village square. The two offerings therefore differ in their structure: the Elbe Cycle Route runs through Tuhaň, while the educational trail is laid out as a circular route starting and ending at a fixed point in the village.

The Poutní cesta Blaník–Říp pilgrimage route also leads to Tuhaň. From Neratovice, a 4.4 km section runs to Tuhaň. Another cultural feature is the traditional pilgrimage event “Setkání přátel aneb den plný her a pohody” (“A Gathering of Friends, or a Day Full of Games and Relaxation”), which is considered one of the municipality’s central cultural activities in Tuhaň. Several different ways of exploring therefore come together in Tuhaň: a ride along the Elbe, a circular trail in the village, a pilgrimage route and a local religious and cultural event.

Other destinations at the same level

For comparison with other destinations at the same higher-level category, you can also find Dolní Zimoř, Zlončice, Jeviněves, Kanina, Hoření Vinice, Spomyšl, Kojetice and Chorušice.

To the higher-level travel overview: Okres Mělník.