The exhibition preparation was carried out in 2023. The new exhibition about Czech forests called Lesárium – Forests for Life was officially opened on 25 May 2024 at the chateau in Kostelec nad Černými lesy. The CZU Forests and the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences participated in its creation as part of the See, Feel and Experience the Forest project, financed from the EEA Funds 2021–2024.
The Lesárium forestry exhibition tells the story of a diverse and rich field and its unique concept, which includes elements of the most modern presentation method while preserving the authentic, i.e. natural, impression of the forest environment, and thus conveys it to the general public. Families with children, students, schoolchildren, laypeople and the professional public will appreciate the friendly environment and the method of communication through text panels, interactive features, and audiovisual stimuli. The presentation is designed so that every visitor has the opportunity to experience the forest with all their senses.
In the "forest space", visitors will learn some facts about the history of forestry and forestry education, which is closely connected with the Kostelec chateau, and will also discover many interesting things about Czech forests. Part of the exhibition is focused on presenting all the important functions of the forest, such as water retention, soil protection, wood and oxygen production, increasing biodiversity, carbon storage, and many others. Today’s modern forestry is presented in the part focused on the latest developments in forestry research.
"Among others, you can see the use of hydrogel in forestry, examples of modern methods of preserving natural objects using the plastination method, and learn about the purpose of devices such as a dendrometer or an increment auger," explains the exhibition's expert guarantor Radim Löwe from the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences. You can take a virtual tour through places that have experienced the largest forest fire in the Czech Republic in history, or visit the beautiful university forest of the Voděradské bučiny National Nature Reserve.
The indoor exhibition also includes a research room for children, which is connected to an outdoor trail around the chateau consisting of fifteen interactive elements of different focus. "For several years, our activities have been aimed at making the university chateau in Kostelec nad Černými lesy as accessible to the public as possible. I am therefore very pleased that our new indoor exhibition and outdoor trail complement the already wide portfolio of activities," notes Zdeněk Macháček, Director of the CZU Forests.
So, do not hesitate and visit the university chateau. The Lesárium is open from 1 June to 30 September, from Friday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm.
