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Type B: “mountain periphery”, Petrovice area (total size 6.400 ha, average alti-
tude 650 m above sea level), was in a very peripheral location at the eastern part
of Krušné hory (mountains) after the Second World War. Its relative geographical
position significantly improved after 1989, when highway D8 was opened on the
international transport axis Prague-Berlin. The tableland is mostly covered with
forest and cultivated meadows. From the east, the sandstone outcrops of Tiské steny
(a protected-landscape area) extend into this tableland, and are a tourist attraction.
The dominant of the northwestern part of this sample area is a hill, Špicák (723
m above sea level). There are abundant sources of underground water. Water is
channelled into a water pipe system which supplies conurbations in Krušné hory
(mountain) foothills. The low density of residences corresponds to an extremely
low density of population (only 20 inhabitants per square km). The Petrovice area is
distinguished by a lower number of “natives” (36% only), extremely low proportion
of industrial employees (20%), and a high proportion of houses used primarily for
recreational activities (28%). This area represents analogous regions in Krušné hory
(mountains), which show dynamic development already in the first stages of indus-
trialisation (in direct connection with the development of Saxon cities). Stagnation
of economic and demographic development follows. After the Second World War,
this area also shows significantly regressive trends and total change of landscape
function and character.
Type C: “Intensive agricultural area” - Trebenice area (total size 3.600 ha)
with predominantly flat lowland and sparsely wooded relief, represents landscape
intensively used for agriculture, with alternating plots of fields, orchards and tiny
stands of trees. From the north, the Trebenice area is penetrated with steep slopes
of the volcanic-sedimentary complex of
Ceské stredohorí
(Czech Middle Mts.), a
landscape-protected area. The warm and dry climate at an altitude about 250 m
above sea level, together with the potential of fertile black soil, creates the pre-
conditions for intensive agricultural use. The road from Louny to Lovosice is the
axis of the Trebenice area, and connects it with highway D8. The little town of
Trebenice, which is located on an old trade road, became a centre of gravity. The
Trebenice area is distinguished by a higher population of older inhabitants (19.2%
of 3.800 inhabitants are older than 60 years); an above-average proportion, within
northwestern Bohemia, of “natives” (49%), a higher proportion of workers in agri-
culture (9%) and a relatively low proportion of employees in industry (25%). Lack
of work opportunities in the region necessitates a high level of commuting to work
places (65% of economically active workers).
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7.3 Assessing the Land-Use Changes
We assess land-use changes in four time horizons. They have specific characteristics
in the Sudeten region, and correspond to phases of development of society (Hampl
1998) which are as follows.
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