Podyjí – Wilderness in the Heart of Cultural Landscape

One of the European Wilderness Network partner from Czech Republic is Podyjí Wilderness.

The European Wilderness Network representing Europe’s last Wilderness, was founded in 2014 and has grown to now 40 members in 17 Countries with more than 350 000 ha of audited Wilderness.

Podyjí is one of the last islands of wilderness in Central Europe. Although it is a landscape with a deep cultural past, today the silence of the forest, the free flow of the Dyje River, and the return of natural processes prevail here once again.

Wilderness here does not arise by chance – it is the result of human retreat, protection of the area, and natural revival. Podyjí shows that even in a landscape marked by history, something wild, true, and alive can be restored.

Please also read: Thaya WILDRiver: A journey into wilderness

Cultural Imprint in Nature

The area of today’s Podyjí was shaped by people for centuries. Vineyards, meadows, and small fields emerged here, some of which still persist as overgrown terraces or old fruit trees. After the war, several settlements and agricultural buildings disappeared, creating space for nature’s return.

This landscape is not “untouched,” but carries layers of history that today blend with the renewing wilderness. This connection between the past and nature is what makes Podyjí a unique place.

Wilderness as a Process

The establishment of the national park in 1991 marked the beginning of a process in which nature gradually takes over. Abandoned meadows and fields grow wild, forests change without intervention, and the Dyje River meanders freely again. Space is created for natural restoration – the return of the lynx, the formation of deadwood, and the development of a dynamic landscape.

Wilderness here does not arise from nothing – it is the result of a quiet human retreat and patient work by nature. This process proves that nature has the power to regenerate even in historically influenced landscapes.

Please also read: Wild Echoes of Podyjí

Rewilding and a New Reading of the Landscape

Podyjí shows that rewilding in Central Europe does not have to start on a “greenfield.” It arises where nature follows abandoned cultural landscapes and transforms them by its own forces. Old vineyards become forests, overgrown meadows turn into mosaics of wild habitats.

Rewilding here is not a return to the past, but a continuation of the landscape’s story – one where past and future merge into a new wilderness. This approach can serve as a model for restoring other Central European landscapes.

Conclusion

Podyjí Wilderness is an example of how nature can restore its functions even in a landscape with a rich human history. Wilderness here is not a return to the past, but a natural continuation of development where history meets the future. Such a model of rewilding offers hope for other areas in Central Europe where it is possible to create a living and authentic wilderness with respect for cultural heritage.

European Wilderness Network

The main aim of the European Wilderness Network is a unified approach to Wilderness Stewardship and the representation of Wilderness and its challenges internationally and within the European Union. All Wilderness, WILDCoasts, WILDForests, WILDIslands, and WILDRivers, in the European Wilderness Network are unique and represent the best and wildest places in Europe.