Lipová U Šluknova – Castle Park, Culture and Marked Trails

Lipová U Šluknova combines impressive cultural monuments with an 11-hectare castle pond, historic avenues and marked trails. If you are looking for a place with specific stories and diverse opportunities for discovery on your trip, you will find both architecture and natural attractions here. The changing scenery between the castle park, waterscapes, hiking trails and small exhibitions is particularly appealing.

Cultural Monuments with Their Own History

The Church of Saints Simon and Jude was built from 1691 to 1695, elevated to a deanery church in 1926 and listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic in 1958. Weekly services as well as concerts and gatherings organized by the municipality take place in the church. Another historic building is the timber-framed house No. 424, which was built from 1721 to 1724 and has been considered a cultural monument of the Czech Republic since 1958.

The restored timber-framed house No. 424 contains an information centre, a museum and a gallery that are open year-round. The information centre is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In the garden, a permanent geological exhibition displays more than 20 types of rock and compares the geological similarities of the Šluknov Hook and the Upper Lusatian Highlands. This makes it possible to combine a visit with the region’s cultural and landscape history.

The château in Lipová was built from 1737 to 1741 by Wilhelm Leopold Salm-Reifferscheidt, the senior member of the family, as a family residence. It is an example of restrained Baroque architecture with clear intercultural influences. The Třípanský kámen also tells of historic borders: The boundary stone from 1750 bears the marks of the adjoining lordships of Sohland, Lipová and Wehrsdorf.

Castle Pond, Park and Historic Landscape

The castle pond in Lipová is also known as Slawatův rybník, has an island and covers an area of 11 hectares. Its history dates back to the peasant uprising of 1680: The pond was built as an imposed act of reconciliation. Parts of the castle park, including the Baroque garden, have been restored. The castle park and castle garden also include a tree nursery and a hornbeam maze; these areas are freely accessible year-round.

Lipová’s historic lime-tree avenue provides a setting for walks and cycling trips. The Kolem zámeckého rybníka nature trail also has its own focus. It is 2.4 km long and has seven stations. The topics covered include invertebrates, fish, plants, wet alder forests and rodents. The trail is signposted in both directions from the pond dam and from the U Pytláka restaurant.

Marked Trails for Different Discoveries

A blue-marked hiking trail from Šluknov to Lobendava via Jáchym runs through the centre of Lipová. Cycle Route No. 3041 also passes through Lipová. The Church Trail connects the Saxon town of Wehrsdorf with Lipová; in 2018, it was restored together with the town of Wehrsdorf and marked with tourist signs. This allows you to distinguish between a hiking trail, a cycling route and a historically oriented connecting trail when planning your trip.

Lipovské hudební léto had a long-standing tradition and mainly featured classical music performed by Czech artists. Together with the services, concerts and gatherings in the church, the history of these events adds a musical dimension to the cultural perspective on the place.

More Places for Trip Planning

For your own research, you can also visit these other destinations: Jiřetín Pod Jedlovou, Merboltice, Studanka U Varnsdorf, Krasne Pole, Kyjov, Lobendava, Dolní Podluží and Janov U Hřenska.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Děčín.