Husova lípa

Husova lípa is a massive linden tree, roughly 150 years old, growing in the Podbeskydí Landscape Park on the outskirts of Kopřivnice in northern Moravia. Protected as a natural monument, it is the last surviving remnant of an old tree-lined avenue that once ran from the town's swimming pool toward the ruins of Šostýn castle — and for nearly a century it has hosted an annual bonfire in memory of Jan Hus.

How big is the tree?

The linden impresses through sheer size alone. Its trunk circumference, measured at a height of 1.3 metres, reaches about 4.5 metres, and its crown spreads roughly 17 metres wide. Combined with an estimated age of around 150 years, these dimensions make it one of the most striking old trees in this part of the Podbeskydí region. It was precisely this scale, together with its historical and landscape value, that led to the tree being placed under legal protection.

Where does the name come from, and why "Hus"?

The linden stands beside a former path leading from Kopřivnice's municipal swimming pool toward the hill with the ruins of Šostýn castle. That route was once lined with a row of trees — today's linden is the only one to have survived from that avenue. In 1933, the Club of Czechoslovak Tourists erected a sandstone memorial beside the tree, inscribed "Husova lípa" ("Hus's Linden") and marked with a chalice — the Hussite symbol referencing Master Jan Hus, the Czech religious reformer burned at the stake in 1415 in Constance. Since then the tree has carried his name as a memorial site, though the linden itself is not tied to any legend of Hus personally visiting the spot — it commemorates him symbolically, as a gathering point for remembrance.

What tradition is tied to this place?

For nearly a hundred years, a bonfire has been lit at Husova lípa on the night of 5 to 6 July, marking the anniversary of Jan Hus's death at the stake in Constance. The fire beside the memorial stone and the old tree has become a local custom honouring the reformer, blending historical memory with a living tradition still practised by the community of Kopřivnice and the surrounding area. It is a rare case where a protected natural monument and a site of historical remembrance function as one and the same place.

Is the tree protected?

Yes — Husova lípa was formally declared a protected natural monument ("památný strom") in the Czech Republic in 1997. The protection covers both the tree itself and its immediate surroundings, aimed at preventing damage to its root system and crown. The linden grows within the Podbeskydí Landscape Park, an area protected for the natural and scenic value of the Beskydy foothills, which further underlines the site's role as a place where nature conservation and local history meet.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Husova lípa located? On the outskirts of Kopřivnice, within the Podbeskydí Landscape Park, beside a former path leading from the town's swimming pool toward the ruins of Šostýn castle.

How old is the tree? It is estimated at around 150 years old, with a trunk circumference of about 4.5 metres measured at 1.3 metres above ground.

Why is the tree called "Husova lípa"? The name comes from a stone memorial erected beside the tree in 1933, inscribed "Husova lípa" and marked with a chalice symbol commemorating Jan Hus, the Czech religious reformer burned at the stake in 1415.

Are there any ceremonies held at the tree? Yes, for nearly a century a bonfire has been lit here on the night of 5 to 6 July in memory of Jan Hus.

Is the tree legally protected? Yes, it has held the status of a protected natural monument ("památný strom") since 1997.