Kamenná trouba

Kamenná trouba is a nature reserve in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, straddling the border between the Pelhřimov and Havlíčkův Brod districts, a couple of kilometres southwest of the small town of Lipnice nad Sázavou. Covering roughly 63 hectares, the reserve has been under protection since 1974 thanks to its well-preserved wetland and meadow habitats along the meandering Pstružný stream.

Where exactly is the reserve located?

The protected area sits at a crossroads where routes from Lipnice nad Sázavou and the nearby village of Řečice meet. It's a quiet, lightly visited corner of the Highlands, well away from the main tourist paths leading up to Lipnice Castle.

What makes this place ecologically valuable?

The reserve exists primarily to protect the meandering Pstružný stream and the mosaic of wetland habitats along its banks: reed beds, tall sedge stands, wet meadows, and stretches of willow and alder growth in the floodplain. This kind of combination of habitats has become rare in the farmed landscape of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, which is exactly why it functions as an important refuge for numerous threatened plant and animal species.

The northern part of the reserve holds a fishpond that takes up nearly a third of the entire protected area. It shapes the local water regime and microclimate that the rest of the ecosystem depends on.

Which species live here?

Protected species recorded in the reserve include the common wall lizard, a moss from the haircap group, the common (smooth) newt, and the adder's-tongue fern — an unassuming, primitive fern that favours damp meadows. Along the edges of the reserve, visitors may also come across autumn crocus, which flowers conspicuously after most of the meadow vegetation has already faded for the season.

What else is the Lipnice area known for?

The countryside around Lipnice is also known for its granite quarrying — so-called Lipnice granite, a pale grey, mica-flecked stone extracted from local quarries for centuries. It's the same stone used to build the walls of nearby Lipnice Castle, whose origins go back to the 13th century. While the quarry itself lies outside the reserve's boundaries, the region's geology explains the rocky character of the wider surrounding terrain.

Is it worth visiting?

Kamenná trouba isn't set up for mass tourism — there's no visitor infrastructure typical of major attractions, and no admission fee. It's better suited to nature lovers looking for a quiet walk through meadows and wetlands, ideally combined with a visit to nearby Lipnice Castle or other stops around the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.

Frequently asked questions

How large is the Kamenná trouba reserve? It covers approximately 63 hectares.

Since when has the area been protected? It has held nature reserve status since 1974.

What is the main natural feature of the reserve? A mosaic of wetland habitats along the Pstružný stream — reed beds, sedge stands, wet meadows, and willow-alder growth — together with a fishpond covering nearly a third of the area.

Is there an entrance fee? No, the reserve is freely accessible with no admission charge.

How far is it from Lipnice Castle? The reserve lies about 2 kilometres southwest of the town of Lipnice nad Sázavou.