Established by Decree of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Socialist Republic No. 64/1976 Coll. of 5 May 1976, as amended by Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 287/1994 Coll., as amended by Decree of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic No. 138/2001 Coll. of 30 March 2001
Address:
Správa CHKO Little Carpathians
(Administration of the Little Carpathians PLA)
Štúrova 115
900 01 Modra
Web:
https://chkomalekarpaty.sopsr.sk
Tel.:
033 647 40 02 / 033 640 05 49
Fax:
033 6474 002
HOT LINE:
0911 011 384
Area of operation: the Protected Landscape Area, the districts of Hlohovec, Pezinok, Piešťany and Trnava
The Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area comprises predominantly well-preserved forest communities with natural species composition in the lower vegetation zones, together with communities at the interface between the Carpathian and Pannonian bioregions. Several thermophilic plant and animal species reach the northern limit of their range here. In its eastern part, it also partially encompasses historical vineyard landscapes.
Little Carpathians constitute a peripheral mountain range of the Inner Carpathians, extending across their south-western tip. They are a core mountain range characterised by the specific development of crystalline rock, with both surrounding and overlying units. Granitoid rocks, limestones, shales, phyllites, amphibolites and other rocks typical of core mountain ranges are found in the area.
There are 8 karst formations and approximately 320 inaccessible caves in the area. The only cave open to the public in the Protected Landscape Area is Driny cave (680 m long) in the Smolenický kras karst, which is notable for its formation and rich sinter decorations.
From a cultural and historical perspective, Deravá skala cave near Plavecký Mikuláš – which was inhabited by humans as far back as the Early Stone Age – and the Veľká pec cave near Vrbové are of particular significance.
The area is largely (89 per cent) covered by deciduous forests comprising beech, oak, narrow-leaved ash, sycamore and lime. Among the non-native tree species, the sweet chestnut is found here.
Among non-forest communities, the most common are thermophilic and xerophilic grassland and herbaceous vegetation, rocky and scree communities, and mesophilic meadows; peat bogs and fens occur rarely.
Little Carpathians is the only place where the European Mediterranean-sub-Mediterranean species Hippocrepis emerus occurs naturally and sporadically in Slovakia; it grows here in two locations, marking the northern boundary of its occurrence. Other species found in Slovakia only in Little Carpathians include the tongue-leaved butcher’s broom (Ruscus hypoglossum), grey vetch (Vicia incana) and the knotted myrrhoides (Myrrhoides nodosa). The species found on Devínska Kobyla that are known only from this site within Slovakia include the dwarf restharrow (Ononis pusilla) and the true rock buckthorn (Rhamnus saxatilis subsp. saxatilis).
are home to a diverse range of animal species. Many important species from various groups of insects and invertebrates are found here. The occurrence of the torrent crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium) in watercourses in the southern part of the area is significant, as is that of the large banded damselfly (Cordulogaster hero). Among birds of prey, the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is common, whilst the imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) occasionally nests here. Other bird species of conservation importance that nest in the area include, for example, the black stork (Ciconia nigra), the honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), the eagle owl (Bubo bubo) and the middle spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius). The underground spaces provide important wintering grounds for bats.