Pastviny – Reservoir, Old Bridges and Landscape

Pastviny combines a distinctive landscape with an unusually large number of traces of regional history. The town lies in the Mladkovská vrchovina, the lowest part of the Orlické Mountains. Water, bridges, old trees, and small historic structures offer you different starting points for planning your trip – from a cycling tour to discovering local history.

Landscape and Notable Natural Monuments

Among the most striking destinations are the memorial lime trees near the U Vejdů farmstead, known as the Vejdovy lípy. One of these lime trees is estimated to be 850 years old. The connection to a specific farmstead and the exceptional age estimate make this place a vivid example of how closely landscape and settlement history are connected in Pastviny.

Reservoir and Bridges Above the Landscape

Pastviny Reservoir is the last stone-built reservoir in the Czech Republic. The bridges in and around Pastviny also tell of different periods and construction methods. The reinforced-concrete viaduct in the town is a Class I bridge with two arch openings, each with a clear span of 50 metres. The Kraví skok iron bridge was built over the Divoká Orlice River in 1905. Before the valley was flooded, it was moved to its present location above Bublačka Bay. The viaduct and the iron bridge thus demonstrate two different construction methods: two reinforced-concrete arch openings on the one hand, and an iron structure built in 1905 on the other.

The Green Route by Bicycle

The Green Route starts at the Pastviny Tourist Information Centre and leads through the Zemská brána area and its surroundings. The Green Route through the Zemská brána area and its surroundings is a moderately difficult cycling route. The entire route runs along paved roads through a recreational area with increased motor-vehicle traffic. Where it runs parallel to a hiking trail, pedestrians have priority. For planning purposes, the paved surface, the traffic situation, and the regulation giving priority to pedestrians are therefore all important characteristics of this route.

History in the Townscape

The first historical mention of Pastviny, formerly Pastwinie, dates from 1514. A later testament is the statue of Saint John of Nepomuk: it was erected on 26 May 1818 at the expense of Jan Hovad. At the lower end of the town stands the bell tower, which probably dates from between 1780 and 1790 and was completely reconstructed in 2010. The cautious dating of its origins remains just as much a part of its history as the fully completed reconstruction.

Getting Oriented Locally

The Pastviny Tourist Information Centre provides advice on tourism, accommodation, dining, and timetables. You can also buy souvenirs, postcards, and small treats there. Since the Green Route starts here, local orientation can be combined with information about this cycling tour. For further destinations, you can also visit Voděrady, Lanškroun, Semanín, Radhošť, Vysoké Mýto, Žampach, Pustina and Cervená Voda.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Ústí Nad Orlicí.