Tabulová, National nature reserve near Klentnice, Czech Republic
Rose Hill and Stone Cat is a nature reserve near the village of Klentnice, in the Pálava hills of southern Moravia, Czech Republic. It covers two limestone hills with rocky outcrops, including a natural stone formation resembling a crouching cat and the ruins of a medieval castle on the higher of the two peaks.
The higher hill held a settlement in the Bronze Age, and limestone quarrying began here in the Middle Ages, leaving old workings that are still visible today. The castle on Rose Hill, known as Sirotci Hradek, was built in the 13th century and destroyed by Swedish forces in 1645.
The reserve is accessible on foot via marked trails that wind through the hills and are generally easy to follow. Visitors must stay on the paths, as collecting plants or disturbing wildlife is not permitted anywhere in the protected area.
A karst cave sits beneath the hill but remains closed to the public. Fossils of sea creatures such as shells, corals and cephalopods have been found within the reserve, showing that this part of Moravia was once covered by an ancient sea.
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