Lipina

Lipina is a small nature reserve located in the municipality of Jarošov nad Nežárkou, in the Jindřichův Hradec District of the Czech Republic, just south of the village of Hostějeves. The reserve protects a patch of old forest on the slope of the Žirovnička stream valley, an area considered one of the warmer localities of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.

Why was this site protected?

The reserve was established to preserve an original linden-oak grove, a type of broadleaf woodland characteristic of warmer, sun-exposed sites in this part of the country. Such forest communities, combining oaks with an admixture of lime trees, tend to develop on slopes with a favorable microclimate created by their aspect and position above a river valley. Lipina was declared a protected nature reserve in 1974 and has since served as a record of the natural vegetation once typical of this region.

What grows in the reserve today?

At present, most of Lipina's area is covered by mixed forest in which birch predominates. The forest floor is typically dominated by wood meadow-grass (Poa nemoralis) and various woodrush species (Luzula), plants associated with shaded, moderately fertile forest sites in this part of the Czech Republic. Their presence points to soil that is damp but not waterlogged, along with moderate shading from the tree canopy above.

It is worth noting that the forest composition has shifted since the reserve's designation. The original linden-oak grove that justified protection now coexists with younger birch stands, a common outcome of natural forest succession in protected areas managed without intensive forestry intervention.

Where exactly is Lipina located?

The reserve lies on the slope of the Žirovnička stream valley, close to the administrative boundary of Jarošov nad Nežárkou. The nearest settlement is the village of Hostějeves, situated directly to the north of the reserve's boundaries. The surrounding landscape is characteristically hilly, typical of the southern part of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, with numerous river valleys and slopes of varying orientation that give rise to distinct local microclimates.

Is Lipina worth visiting?

Lipina appeals primarily to nature enthusiasts and botany-minded visitors seeking quiet, lightly frequented sites with preserved elements of natural forest vegetation. The reserve offers no developed tourist infrastructure, but its modest size and proximity to Jarošov nad Nežárkou make it easy to fold into a longer walk through the area — for instance combined with a visit to the village itself or to other protected natural sites in the Jindřichův Hradec region.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Lipina reserve established? The reserve was designated in 1974.

What does the Lipina nature reserve protect? Its main purpose is to preserve an original linden-oak grove, characteristic of the warmer localities of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.

Where is the Lipina reserve located? On the slope of the Žirovnička stream valley, south of the village of Hostějeves, within the municipality of Jarošov nad Nežárkou.

What vegetation dominates the site today? Mixed forest with a predominance of birch now covers most of the area, with wood meadow-grass and woodrush species common in the understory.