Lipovec (population around 1,200) sits on a plain between the wooded hills of the Drahany Highlands, on the north-eastern edge of the Moravian Karst. It once made its living from quarrying limestone and burning lime. What remains is a former quarry and the Velká dohoda lime kiln, now an outdoor activity area with via ferratas, a rope park, a zip line and a cave. The village is home to the neo-Gothic Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which has no tower. Above Lipovec rises a hill topped by the Kojál transmitter, and at the lower end of the village lies the Černá skála nature monument, a flooded quarry that shelters rare amphibians. We found no verified accommodation in the village itself; the nearest is in Senetářov and Sloup.
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Thanks to its position, Lipovec is often called the gateway to the Moravian Karst. Anyone driving from Vyškov or Senetářov towards the Macocha Abyss passes straight through it. It is well worth a stop, mainly for Velká dohoda and the peaceful forests around it.
What to see
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
The old church burned down in 1822. Its replacement was built between 1828 and 1842 in the neo-Gothic style and consecrated on 8 September 1843. What makes it unusual is that it has no tower. There are only a handful of such churches in the Czech Republic. A statue of St John of Nepomuk stands in front of the church. Plenty of other crosses and wayside shrines are scattered around the village and the hamlet of Marianín.
Černá skála
At the lower end of the village lies a disused quarry with a small lake. It is now a nature monument, as it is home to protected newts, tree frogs, toads and frogs.
Kojál
On the highest hill above the village stands the 340-metre mast of the Kojál transmitter, the tallest structure in Moravia. It can be seen from much of the karst. You can read the legend of Kojálovský in the article Place names and legends of Senetářov.
History
The first written mention of Lipovec dates from 1349, when Vok I of Holštejn bought it together with the Holštejn estate. In the late 14th century the village had a manor farm, where Vok IV of Holštejn and Lipovec had his seat. You can read his story in the article Holštejn.
Velká dohoda
The former quarry and lime kiln were built by the people of Lipovec themselves, and the kiln was among the largest and most modern in the Moravian Karst. The shaft lime kiln from 1928 has survived and is freely accessible. Limestone from the quarry was burned in it for fifty years.
Today the quarry is an outdoor activity area:
- via ferratas, over 1,100 metres in total, ranging from easy to very demanding sections,
- a rope park with 17 obstacles for children and adults,
- a climbing wall with ten routes (UIAA 3 to 6+); equipment can be hired and an instructor arranged,
- a zip line 402 metres long, starting almost 30 metres up, 300 Kč (approx. €12 — indicative conversion, exchange rates fluctuate),
- the Horizont Cave, which you can explore with a guide, helmet and light for 50 Kč (approx. €2),
- a children’s playground and refreshments.
In September and October the area is open at weekends and on public holidays, 10 am to 6 pm. On weekdays, arrange a visit by phone (604 182 710, 739 751 003). The site has no street address; parking is above the quarry. For more on the Horizont Cave, see the article Caves without a guide.
Day trips
- To Holštejn and Rasovny. From Velká dohoda it is a short hop to the Bílá voda nature reserve, with its ruined castle and the sinkholes where the stream disappears underground. See Holštejn.
- Lesser-known sinkholes. In the forests around Lipovec you will find the karst sinkholes known as U Domínky, V jedlích and Plánivy. The article Karst phenomena of the Moravian Karst explains what a sinkhole is.
- To the Macocha Abyss, a waymarked route leads cyclists. Lipovec also lies on a longer variant of the circuit Cycling through Suchý and Pustý žleb.
- To Senetářov, it is a short trip via Kojál. See Senetářov.
Where to stay
In Lipovec itself there are only private cottages for rent. Accommodation with a verified track record can be found in the surrounding villages:
- Senetářov, Penzion Kůlna, see Senetářov.
- Sloup, hotels, a guesthouse and a campsite, see Sloup.
- Jedovnice, Kemp Olšovec and others, see Jedovnice.
Accommodation options change, so check before you travel.
FAQ
Why does the church in Lipovec have no tower? The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was built between 1828 and 1842 after a fire destroyed the old church. There are only a few similar towerless churches in the Czech Republic.
What is Velká dohoda? A former limestone quarry with a lime kiln near Lipovec. Today it is an outdoor activity area with via ferratas, a rope park, a climbing wall, a zip line and the Horizont Cave.
When is Velká dohoda open? In September and October at weekends and on public holidays, 10 am to 6 pm, and on weekdays by arrangement. Current opening times are on the area’s website.
Can you stay overnight in Lipovec? Only in private cottages. Guesthouses and a campsite can be found in Senetářov, Sloup and Jedovnice.
Information verified as of 11. 10. 2026. Sources: brochure by the Moravian Karst Rural Development Association, Lipovec village profile; Lipovec municipality: Tourism; Lipovec (Wikipedia); Velká dohoda outdoor area.
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