Lány Forest Administration is a contributory organization of the Office of the President of the Republic and is authorized to manage land with an area of 6482.0157 ha, of which forest land accounts for 6276.6233 ha. Almost the entire managed area is located in the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area (PLA).
Our mission is to care for forestry and hunting, protect nature and develop the unique heritage of forests, so that we preserve this exceptional area for future generations. Our territory is home to one of the oldest game preserves in Europe, dating back to 1713; the Lány Game Preserve is the third largest game preserve in the Czech Republic.
Geology and Soil
Water Resources
Climate
Forest stands
Every tree, every body of water, and every corner of this territory plays its role in a unique ecosystem that is carefully protected and maintained for future generations.
The history of the Lány Game Preserve dates back to the early Middle Ages. Czech rulers organized deer and wild boar hunts in the Lány area. The first written records of hunting date from the early 11th century, when Prince Jaromír of the Přemyslid dynasty hunted here. In the following centuries, Lány welcomed hunters from the royal family, including Prince Břetislav II, Přemysl Otakar I, Wenceslas I, and Wenceslas IV.
In 1392, the village of Lány was founded, then owned by Pavel of Kladno and Hašek of Lány, both from the noble Kladenský family of Kladno. In 1587, Emperor Rudolf II purchased the Lány fortress, and Lány thus became part of the Křivoklát dominion. Emperor Rudolf had a small hunting lodge built in Lány, which forms the basis of today's chateau.
Due to increasing poaching, a vast game preserve covering 9,600 ha, enclosed by a 47 km long fence, was established in 1713. In 1731, the estate passed into the hands of the Fürstenberg family. In 1816, they divided the preserve into two smaller ones – the Lány Game Preserve, focused on breeding large game, and the Řevničov Game Preserve, where wild boar were bred.
After the First World War, on July 15, 1921, the Czechoslovak Republic purchased Lány Castle and the surrounding hunting grounds from the Fürstenbergs. Lány Castle was declared the summer residence of Czechoslovak presidents, especially due to its representativeness and proximity to Prague. The Lány game preserve thus became an important place for representative hunting. The Office of the President of the Republic organized ceremonial hunts and meetings here, including the visit of King Carol II in 1936.
During the Second World War, the Lány Game Preserve served for hunting and recreational rides for Nazi officers, even though some employees of the preserve supported resistance groups.
In the years 1948 – 1989, the area was visited by guests from countries friendly to Czechoslovakia. These were hunting visits mainly from the Soviet Union, the Hungarian and Bulgarian People's Republics, but also ambassadors from the GDR, Mongolia, Argentina, Indonesia, China, North Korea, Cuba, Ghana, Mali, Lebanon, Tunisia, Turkey, India, Switzerland, France, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Syria, Poland, etc.
Currently, the managed territory serves the representative and recreational purposes of the President of the Republic and the Office of the President of the Republic. At the same time, we focus on making forestry and hunting accessible to the public. Our goal is not only to protect this exceptional territory but also to strengthen the public's relationship with nature and sustainable management.