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This paper provides an overview of traditional hay-making structures and the related agricultural landscapes in Europe. The information was collected using a standardised questionnaire that was completed by experts from different countries. What all countries had in common was that hay production with its corresponding structures was widespread. However, the scope and importance differed among the countries today. We found differences in type and extent, in degree of awareness, and in the cultural meaning of hay-making structures. The differences were connected with built structures, as well as with other tangible and intangible aspects of cultural heritage. The distribution of the broad variety of hay-making-related structures, especially semipermanent ones, has changed throughout history, as well as the hay-making techniques, as a result of agrarian specialisation, land reclamation, and consolidation. Today, in some countries, the relevance of hay-making was mainly connected to horse keeping and landscape management (like in Germany and Hungary), while in others (like Slovakia and Slovenia), it was still predominantly used for cattle and sheep.

The article develops general theoretical discussion on researches on second housing as well as concepts of the new regional, new cultural and behavioral geographies. The major focus is given on theoretical and methodological background of the process of formation of regional identity and identity of regions in the areas with considerable concentration of settlements and municipalities with prevailing tourist function. It deals with identification of the inner development potential of localities and regions from socioeconomic and sociocultural views. Both identity of regions (their outer and inner image) and appurtenance of residents and tourists (second home owners) with the territory is emphasized. The key objective is to support and explain possible behavioral approaches in the research of the impact of second housing and tourism activities in the forming of regional identity and identity of the regions. Formování regionální identity a identity regionů v Česku – představení výzkumu vlivu druhého bydlení a cestovního ruchu Předloženy članek je založen předevšim na diskusi teoretickych přistupů a vybranych konceptů nove regionalni, kulturni a behavioralni geografie, ktere mohou byt využity při vyzkumech druheho bydleni a cestovniho ruchu. Důraz je kladen na obecne a metodologicke pohledy na procesy formovani regionalni identity a identity regionů v uzemi s vyraznou koncentraci sidel a obci s převažujici rekreačni a turistickou funkci. Žadouci současti vyzkumů je identifikace vnitřniho socioekonomickeho a sociokulturniho potencialu lokalit a regionů. S vnějši i vnitřni identitou regionů nedilně souvisi regionalni povědomi sounaležitosti rezidentů, ale i rekreantů a turistů. Hlavnim cilem je podpořit a vysvětlit možnosti využiti behavioralnich přistupů ve vyzkumech vlivu druheho bydleni a turistickych aktivit na formovani regionalni identity a identity regionů.

This paper analyses the historical cultural landscapes in Czechia and their preservation and regional distribution. The regional distribution of existing and proposed landscape conservation zones and natural parks is analysed by division into peripheral, core and neutral zones. The most protected historical cultural landscapes are in the neutral area where land use/land cover changes in past decades were less intensive. In contrast, core area landscapes are affected by intensification and those in peripheral areas are influenced by extensification. While correlations were identified between the spatial distribution of protected landscape distribution and areas with predominantly German speaking inhabitants prior to 1945, more protected historical cultural landscapes are located in the core area where long-term Czech-speaking inhabitants prevailed. Finally, although the proportions of existing landscape conservation zones are almost equal, proposed landscape conservation zones prevail in the core area.

Mining heritage refers to a complex of both tangible and intangible features and values whose formation was associated with the development of mining activities in the given region. After mining activities are completed, original industrial and related subsidiary structures either fall into dereliction or are subject to conversion. One of frequent modes of transformation of objects is their presentation as heritage and utilization for the needs of tourism. The way of its interpretation and presentation to the public plays a very important role in mining heritage preservation, since it may be attributed not only historical and architectural values, but may also reflect political or ideological background of the period in which it was formed. The paper discusses the definition of mining heritage and the questions concerning its origin, recognition, protection, management and interpretation in the case of the Jáchymovsko area, part of the cross-border mountainous region in Czech-German borderland which is being proposed to be included into the UNESCO heritage list. The Jáchymovsko area is distinguished by the fact that it combines a 500-year-old history of mineral extraction and therefore local mining heritage is very diverse. Thus, different types of local mining heritage and its conversion for other purposes (e.g. tourism) are analysed, ways of local mining heritage identification, management and interpretation are discussed.

The article focuses on geoparks as areas with a specific form of local heritage protection. It contributes to a research into two interconnected fields: firstly, the research into local people’s participation in local development; secondly, the research into tourism sustainability. Discussion of foreign publications reveals that in the context of Czechia geoparks are misunderstood concept. This argument is supported by a case study from one part of the National Geopark Železné hory. The field research proved that there are significant barriers to meeting the purpose of geoparks. Two conditions are required in geoparks: the possibility of cooperation among local actors and the ability to be competitive through a diverse offer of services and products. The paper discusses factors affecting the actual state of society and their operation in the local development. The aim of the paper is to identify the obstacles to the development of geoparks as a reflection of the problems in local and regional development. In addition, the article deals with possible instruments for the management of geoparks and their utilization for effective coordination of local development.

At the 2018 meeting of the Permanent European Conference for the Study of the Rural Landscape (PECSRL), that took place in Clermont-Ferrand and Mende in France, the Institute for Research on European Agricultural Landscapes e.V. (EUCALAND) Network organized a session on traditional landscapes. Presentations included in the session discussed the concept of traditional, mostly agricultural, landscapes, their ambiguous nature and connections to contemporary landscape research and practice. Particular attention was given to the connection between traditional landscapes and regional identity, landscape transformation, landscape management, and heritage. A prominent position in the discussions was occupied by the question about the future of traditional or historical landscapes and their potential to trigger regional development. Traditional landscapes are often believed to be rather stable and slowly developing, of premodern origin, and showing unique examples of historical continuity of local landscape forms as well as practices. Although every country has its own traditional landscapes, globally seen, they are considered as being rare; at least in Europe, also as a consequence of uniforming CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) policies over the last five decades. Although such a notion of traditional landscapes may be criticized from different perspectives, the growing number of bottom-up led awareness-raising campaigns and the renaissance of traditional festivities and activities underline that the idea of traditional landscapes still contributes to the formation of present identities. The strongest argument of the growing sector of self-marketing and the increasing demand for high value, regional food is the connection to the land itself: while particular regions and communities are promoting their products and heritages. In this sense, traditional landscapes may be viewed as constructed or invented, their present recognition being a result of particular perceptions and interpretations of local environments and their pasts. Nevertheless, traditional landscapes thus also serve as a facilitator of particular social, cultural, economic, and political intentions and debates. Reflecting on the session content, four aspects should be emphasized. The need for: dynamic landscape histories; participatory approach to landscape management; socioeconomically and ecologically self-sustaining landscapes; planners as intermediaries between development and preservation.