Pustina – Hollow Setting, Views and Cultural Heritage

Pustina in the landscape

At an elevation of 473 metres, Pustina lies in a small hollow. Most of the village is below the level of the surrounding terrain and only comes into view shortly before you arrive. Its hollow setting and late visibility are two related features: its place in the landscape and the moment when Pustina enters your field of vision. In this way, the topography shapes your first impression of the village. The two details answer different questions: the figure in metres indicates elevation, while the hollow describes the village’s position in relation to the surrounding landscape.

Settlement and history

Settlement began towards the end of the 17th century, with several farmsteads established as the forest was cleared. A distinctive building is Pustina’s bell tower: built in 1921 and designed in the form of a chapel, it has always served a secular purpose. Its chapel-like appearance and secular function coexist here; its form does not indicate its purpose. The chronicle is also part of the village’s history. Josef Vítek wrote it up to 1939.

The historical landmarks span several centuries: settlement began towards the end of the 17th century, the column at Poklona dates to the first half of the 18th century, and the bell tower was added in 1921. Josef Vítek wrote the chronicle up to 1939. This sequence distinguishes the beginnings of settlement, architectural landmarks and written records, rather than grouping them into a single period.

Paths and views

A footpath leads south from Pustina towards Řepníky to a terrace in the terrain called Poklona, above Střemošice. From there, the view extends to the Českomoravská vrchovina and the Železné hory. South of Pustina, on Poklona, stands a three-sided Baroque column of the Holy Trinity dating from the first half of the 18th century. The path, the terrace and the monument can thus be associated with the name Poklona, without confusing the places visible from here with those seen from other viewpoints.

At the highest point of Střemošická stráň, near the Poklona column, views open up over the Skutečsko and Prosečsko granite pluton, the Cretaceous cliffs and Košumberk Castle. The two descriptions of the views therefore differ in what they look out over: from the terrace, the views extend to the Českomoravská vrchovina and the Železné hory; from the stráň, to the granite pluton, the Cretaceous cliffs and the castle. This distinction helps you match each landscape feature to its viewpoint.

Library and book culture

Pustina has a public library with public internet access. The Čeňek Mlíka Library at Pustina 45 specialises in Czech literature and 19th-century book culture. Pustina thus offers both a public library service and a clearly defined focus on literature and book culture.

The library gallery is on the ground floor of a two-storey building and covers 160 square metres. The exhibition programme may change. If you are planning a visit, check visitor access in advance.

Discover more destinations: České Heřmanice, Lanškroun, Klásterec Nad Orlicí, Oucmanice, Přívrat, Vlckovice, Jehnědí, Dolní Morava.

For the regional travel overview: Okres Ústí Nad Orlicí.