The castle pond in Lipová, also known as Slawatův rybník, has an island and covers an area of 11 hectares. Its history dates back to the period after the 1680 peasant revolt: the pond was built as an imposed act of reconciliation. The castle was built later, from 1737 to 1741. Wilhelm Leopold Salm-Reifferscheidt had it built as a family residence. Its restrained Baroque architecture shows clear intercultural influences. The pond and castle thus offer different historical points of interest for a stay in Lipová.
Building history and cultural monuments
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. House No. 424, a timber-framed house, was built from 1721 to 1724 and has also been a cultural monument of the Czech Republic since 1958. The church and the house therefore represent different periods of construction, but share the year in which they were listed as cultural monuments.
The cemetery chapel is also part of the town’s architectural history: it was built in 1875 in the Neo-Romanesque style and reconstructed in 2018. The chapel in Liščí dates from 1826, was also reconstructed, and has a bell tower with a bell. The Třípanský kámen offers a different historical connection. The boundary stone from 1750 bears the emblems of the neighboring estates of Sohland, Lipová and Wehrsdorf.
Information center and geological exhibition
A restored timber-framed house, No. 424, houses an information center, a museum and a gallery. The information center is open daily year-round from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; check the opening details before your arrival. The garden of the house has a permanent geological exhibition. It compares the geological similarities between the Šluknov Hook and the Upper Lusatian Highlands and displays more than 20 rocks.
Weekly services, as well as concerts and gatherings organized by the municipality, take place at the Church of Saints Simon and Jude. If you would like to plan your visit around one of these events, check the latest details before you arrive.
Castle park, pond and nature trail
The castle park and castle garden, along with the tree nursery and hornbeam maze, are open year-round free of charge. Parts of the castle park, including the Baroque garden, have been restored. The historic linden avenue offers a setting for walks and cycling trips.
The Kolem zámeckého rybníka nature trail is 2.4 kilometers long and has seven stops. It covers invertebrates, fish, plants, wet alder forests and rodents. This combines a walk with a range of nature topics. The trail is signposted in both directions from the pond dam and from the U Pytláka restaurant.
Hiking and cycling routes
A blue-marked hiking trail leads from Šluknov to Lobendava via Jáchym, passing through the center of Lipová. Cycling route No. 3041 also passes through Lipová. The Church Path connects the Saxon town of Wehrsdorf with Lipová; it was restored together with Wehrsdorf in 2018 and marked with tourist signs. Check the current signage on site when using these routes.
Discover more destinations: Dittersbach, Starý Šachov, Arnoltice, Doubice, Horní Podluzí, Hřensko, Janská, Františkov Nad Ploučnicí.
For the broader travel overview: Děčín District.
