Obora Hvězda
Park and nature reserve in Prague, Czech Republic / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Obora Hvězda (Star Game Reserve) is a 84 hectares (210 acres) forest park (formerly a royal game reserve) in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, which is now protected as a natural monument. It is located about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) west of the city centre, surrounded by the neighbourhoods of Liboc (N), Břevnov (E), Bílá Hora (SW) and Ruzyně (W).
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The first mention of the forest, originally called Malejov, dates from 993, when duke Boleslaus II donated it to the newly established Břevnov Monastery. It was transformed into a walled game reserve during rule of Ferdinand I in the mid-16th century. The current name (hvězda being Czech for "star") derives from the Star Summer Palace, a 16th-century building, which stands in middle of the forest. The Battle of White Mountain took place on fields in the W/SW vicinity of the game reserve in 1620.
Nowadays part of the site is designated as a Natura 2000 protected site due to the presence of the narrow-mouthed whorl snail (Vertigo angustior).
The site is home to several bird species including the Middle Spotted Woodpecker.