Żaki Nature Reserve

The Żaki Nature Reserve is a forest reserve in the Upper Vistula Valley, in the Żaki hamlet of the village of Dwory II in Oświęcim municipality. It protects a fragment of natural oak-hornbeam forest (grąd) with old lime trees, which resembles the original landscape of the Vistula valley.

Forest and plants

The stand consists mainly of small-leaved lime, hornbeam and pedunculate oak. The understorey includes bird cherry, black elder, common hawthorn and spindle. 126 species of vascular plants and 26 species of mosses have been recorded here. Protected plants include mezereon, broad-leaved helleborine, ramsons and oxlip.

The canal and changes to the waters

The reserve was established in 1959 on 17.52 ha. The construction of the “Nawiga” navigable canal on the Vistula in the 1970s reduced its area to 12.24 ha, although this is not yet confirmed by a legal act. The canal adjoins the reserve from the north, and the regulation of the Vistula and of a stream changed the water conditions and dried out the habitat.

Together with the neighbouring Przeciszów reserve, the reserve lies in the Natura 2000 area “Dolina Dolnej Skawy” (Lower Skawa Valley).

Practical information

• Dwory II, Oświęcim municipality, Oświęcim County. The site is managed by the Andrychów Forest District.
• The sources describe no trail or educational path. Check the rules of entry with the forest district.
• In the area is Energylandia.