Malý Lopeník

Malý Lopeník is a modest peak in the White Carpathians (Bílé Karpaty), rising right along the Czech-Slovak border near the village of Lopeník, in the Uherské Hradiště district. At 881 metres above sea level, it stands just 1.2 kilometres from its taller neighbour, Velký Lopeník (911 m).

Where is Malý Lopeník and how high does it rise?

Malý Lopeník belongs to the White Carpathians, the mountain range running along the frontier between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Its summit reaches 881 metres, making it a smaller sibling to Velký Lopeník, the third-highest point in the entire range at 911 metres. The saddle connecting the two peaks is used in summer as pastureland for grazing livestock, giving the ridge a distinctly pastoral character.

What's there to see nearby - the lookout tower on Velký Lopeník?

Malý Lopeník itself has no visitor infrastructure, but its neighbour does: a wooden observation tower stands on the summit of Velký Lopeník. Built on a stone base and standing almost 22 metres tall, it opened in 2005 thanks to an initiative by the surrounding municipalities. A staircase of 101 steps leads up to the viewing platform at roughly 19 metres. On a clear day the panorama stretches out toward the Malá Fatra, the Strážov Hills, Považský Inovec, the Little Carpathians, Pálava, the Chřiby, Hostýnské and Vizovické hills, and the Beskids - and on exceptionally clear days, even as far as the Jeseníky Mountains.

Why are the White Carpathians so ecologically important?

The whole range has been listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1996, and the protected landscape area (CHKO) covering 715 square kilometres was established back in 1980. The region is best known for its orchid meadows: 48 of the 63 orchid species found in the Czech Republic grow here, making the White Carpathians the richest orchid habitat in Central Europe. Different species bloom in succession from spring through mid-July, and in the Čertoryje reserve botanists have recorded more than 70 plant species within a single 1.5 by 1.5 metre patch of meadow.

How do you get to Malý Lopeník?

The usual starting point is the village of Lopeník, from which marked trails climb to the saddle between the two peaks and continue on to Velký Lopeník and its lookout tower. This stretch of the Czech-Slovak border was once tightly controlled, but today hikers and cyclists can cross freely along the network of trails running the length of the White Carpathian ridge.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Malý Lopeník? It reaches 881 metres above sea level.

Is there a lookout tower on Malý Lopeník? No - the observation tower stands on the neighbouring, taller Velký Lopeník (911 m), about 1.2 km away.

What's worth seeing in the area? The region is famous for its orchid meadows, among the richest in species in Central Europe, and for the panoramic views from the tower on Velký Lopeník, which stretch from the Malá Fatra to the Beskids.

Is the White Carpathians range protected? Yes - a protected landscape area has existed since 1980, and the whole range has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1996.

How do you reach Malý Lopeník? The easiest approach is from the village of Lopeník, from where trails lead up to the saddle between Malý and Velký Lopeník.