Arboretum Bílá Lhota

Arboretum Bílá Lhota is a small but exceptionally species-rich dendrological park in the Olomouc region, laid out on a south-facing slope next to the local chateau. Covering barely three hectares, it holds nearly 400 species and cultivars of trees and shrubs gathered from across the world, making it one of the more rewarding day-trip destinations in the Litovel area.

How did a park at a chateau turn into an arboretum?

The park dates back to around 1700, when it was created as part of the chateau grounds in Bílá Lhota. Its real transformation came in 1870, when the estate was bought by Jan Riedel, who enlarged the grounds and reshaped them in a mixed French-English style, combining formal geometric avenues with more relaxed, landscape-style plantings. That redesign laid the groundwork for the park's present character.

Who built the tree collection visitors see today?

Credit for the arboretum's true identity goes to Quido Riedel, who continued his predecessor's work and focused on assembling a valuable, highly varied collection of ornamental and exotic trees. His long-term efforts raised both the aesthetic and the scientific value of the grounds, turning the park into something closer to a living museum of trees.

What trees and shrubs grow here?

The arboretum holds around 400 species and cultivars of woody plants. Among them are shrub-form yews in a range of colors and shapes, thujas, spruces, oaks, beeches with varying leaf coloration, false cypresses, maples, pines, birches, Douglas firs and lindens. A separate group consists of rare, collector-grade plants — including Japanese maples, witch hazels and magnolias, which draw particular attention in spring.

The woody plants come from strikingly distant parts of the world: North America, Japan, China, Asia Minor, southern Europe (mainly the Balkans), as well as Korea, Manchuria, Siberia, Canada, the United States and Mexico. This geographic diversity means a walk through the modestly sized park reveals plants that would never occur naturally in Central Europe.

Since when has the arboretum been open to the public?

The park was opened to visitors in 1968, under the name Arboretum Bílá Lhota. It has functioned ever since as a place for walks and nature education, while still preserving the character of a historical park layout dating back more than three centuries.

What protection status does the arboretum hold today?

The site is currently classified as a National Nature Monument, a status that reflects the exceptional value of both the dendrological collection assembled here and the historical park layout itself.

Frequently asked questions

How large is Arboretum Bílá Lhota? It covers just under three hectares on a south-facing slope beside the chateau in Bílá Lhota.

How many species of trees and shrubs grow in the arboretum? Around 400 species and cultivars, sourced from places including North America, Japan, China and the Balkans.

Who founded and developed the park? The park originated around 1700, was expanded by Jan Riedel after 1870, and its rich tree collection was built up by Quido Riedel.

Since when has the arboretum been open to visitors? It has been publicly accessible since 1968.

What conservation status does the site have? The arboretum is currently designated a National Nature Monument.