Pustověty: Forest Valley, Mill and Village History

Pustověty between forest and valley

Pustověty lies on the edge of the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area and amid the Křivoklátské forests. The village is also situated in the deeply cut, gorge-like valley of the Rakovnický potok. This setting brings together protected landscape, forest and a distinctive valley shape within a small area. Anyone wishing to combine nature and village history during a stay will find various points of interest in Pustověty. The landscape shapes not only the surroundings but also the character of the village.

Forest, valley and marked trails

Several cycling and hiking trails pass through Pustověty. The village also has a marked KČT hiking route. In addition, there is the marked educational trail “Vůně dýmu a jehličí”. The picturesque Pustovětské údolí is likewise one of Pustověty’s landscape attractions. This means that different forms of orientation exist side by side: cycling and hiking trails, a marked route and an educational trail with its own name.

Mill and village centre

The former water mill no. 7 stands in the village centre. Its history probably dates back to the late Baroque period; it was later remodelled in the Classicist style. A substantial part of the historic technical equipment has been preserved in the mill room. The building therefore combines two aspects of its history: its probable late Baroque origins and its later Classicist alteration, complemented by preserved technical elements. At the mill, the development of a single place can therefore be viewed through both its architectural form and its former use.

The historic village centre includes a group of large farms and agricultural homesteads on a raised spur above a meander of the Rakovnický potok. Pustověty is also home to a Baroque statue of Saint John of Nepomuk from 1723, created by M. B. Braun. The war memorial was erected in the 1920s and is a distinctive feature of the village green. Thus, the village centre brings together rural architectural forms, a Baroque sculpture and a memorial within a small area. For visitors interested in village history, this creates clearly distinguishable stops.

Rail connection and multi-purpose sports field

Pustověty railway stop is located on the single-track, non-electrified line no. 174 between Beroun and Rakovník. Its position between these two towns also places Pustověty in geographic context. The multi-purpose sports field has goals for small-sided football, volleyball and tennis posts with nets, and a basketball facility. It is available to local residents and visitors from elsewhere. This means that an explicitly accessible sporting facility complements the village’s nature and cultural attractions. Anyone who does not want to define their stay solely through the landscape and village history can also include this sporting option in their daily plans.

When choosing accommodation or a place to stay, the desired focus can therefore be established first: the natural landscape and trails, the mill and village centre, the railway connection or the sports field lead to different ideas of how to spend the day, without presupposing any additional features of the accommodation. Nature enthusiasts can place the character of the landscape in the foreground, while those interested in culture can focus on the mill and village centre; the sports field provides an independent alternative.

More places for your research

If you would like to compare other destinations in the same travel area in addition to Pustověty, you can find Děkov, Srbeč, Řeřichy, Pavlíkov, Kolešovice, Sýkořice, Malinová and Skryje here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Rakovník.