Lhotské jalovce a stěny

Lhotské jalovce a stěny is a natural monument on the northwestern edge of the village of Lhota u Olešnice in the Blansko district of the Czech Republic, lying within the Svratecká hornatina landscape park. Covering just over 18 hectares, the site was granted legal protection on 10 February 1998, and by law it also gained a 50-metre buffer zone around the core protected area.

Why is this place protected?

The site was placed under protection because of its rock formations, which support a varied mosaic of plant and animal communities. The stated purpose of protection is to preserve a scientifically and aesthetically valuable stretch of landscape together with populations of specially protected species of flora and fauna. It is this combination of geology, the microclimate created by the rock walls, and the surrounding vegetation that makes this small but ecologically rich area stand out.

What is there to see?

The terrain within the natural monument is geomorphologically complex, featuring rocky outcrops, ravines and gorges alongside stunted beech-oak groves. Rare plant species grow here on gneiss and limestone bedrock, adapted to the dry, sun-exposed conditions typical of rock faces. The limestone walls themselves reach up to 12 metres in height — an impressive figure for such a compact protected area, and the source of the second half of the site's name, "stěny," meaning "walls."

The first part of the name refers to junipers ("jalovce"), the characteristic shrubs that colonize the sun-baked, rocky slopes. Together with the rare rock-dwelling flora, these junipers form the ecological and visual core of the site.

A mysterious wall within the reserve

Running through the natural monument is an intriguing structure: a dry-stone wall built without mortar. According to local tradition, it once separated the village's communal pasture from privately owned forest. Its exact age and origin have not been definitively established, adding a layer of historical mystery to a site that is already notable for its natural values.

Where exactly is it located?

Lhotské jalovce a stěny lies right at the northwestern boundary of the village of Lhota u Olešnice, in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, within the Svratecká hornatina — a hilly upland region tied to the valley of the Svratka river. The surrounding landscape is characterized by rolling, hilly terrain, numerous rocky outcrops, and well-preserved fragments of traditional, lightly modified countryside.

Frequently asked questions

When was this natural monument established? The area received legal protection on 10 February 1998.

How large is the protected area? It covers about 18.13 hectares, surrounded additionally by a 50-metre buffer zone.

What is the main reason for protecting this site? Its rock formations and the diverse mosaic of plant and animal species they support, including specially protected species.

How tall are the rock walls? The limestone walls reach up to 12 metres in height.

What is the mysterious wall inside the reserve? A dry-stacked stone wall that, according to tradition, once separated the village's communal pasture from private forest — its precise history remains unclear.

Where is the site located? On the northwestern edge of the village of Lhota u Olešnice, in the Blansko district, within the Svratecká hornatina landscape park.