Morysin Nature Reserve

The Morysin Nature Reserve, established in 1996 in Warsaw's Wilanów district, aims to protect a section of the Vistula River valley, which is home to a floodplain forest and rich habitats of flora and fauna. It covers an area of 53.46 hectares, with a buffer zone of 254.18 hectares. Nature conservation in the reserve is active, and its purpose includes preserving the ecosystem and unique monumental trees. As a natural and landscape complex, Morysin is part of the Wilanów Cultural Park, and access to it was facilitated after the implementation of a protection plan in 2014. Within the reserve, we find habitats and vegetation dominated by a floodplain forest, where majestic trees grow, including rare specimens of poplars and elms. The rich fauna includes numerous species of birds, mammals, and amphibians, as well as rare species of bats. Historically, Morysin was part of a romantic park created in the early 19th century to serve as a recreational area for the owners of the Wilanów Palace. The reserve features historical monuments, such as the ruins of a palace with a rotunda inspired by Roman architecture, as well as a gatekeeper's house and a forester's lodge. It is worth noting that in the past, Morysin was a game park and a place where cultures intersected through structures associated with pagan worship. The park declined in significance in the 20th century but regained its status as a historical monument in 1973 and has been part of the Historic Monument list since 1994.