Transformation of Czech cultural landscapes over the past two centuries: typology based on model areas

Abstract

Central European landscapes have undergone massive changes since the mid 19th century. Various driving forces including industrialization and different political decisions led to the processes that have profoundly influenced society, landscape character, and also heritage. This article focuses on thirty model areas across Czechia that were selected as typical representatives of various types of landscape changes. Based on land use/cover data covering the mid-19th century and the present time (2018−2020), a cluster analysis was carried out and model areas grouped into types/clusters. The results show that the main dividing line runs between intensively and extensively used landscapes. The current data show this division in a very clear manner and add one more type – anthropogenic landscapes. This differs from the expert typology based on key landscape features. They are often not big enough to play a significant role in the analysis of land use/cover change.