Bessenitz: Observation Tower, Churches and Excursions to the Slepičí hory

Bessenitz between a hollow and mountainous landscape

Bessenitz combines distinctive religious buildings, an unusual observation facility and a landscape at the foot of the Slepičí hory. Besednice lies in a shallow hollow that forms the watershed between the Malše and Stropnice rivers. This brings together local history, distinctive landscape features and excursion destinations – an interesting basis if you would like to make your stay varied.

Landscape, Vltavines and views

One of the unusual natural features is Besednické Vltavíny I. The deposit consists of gravel and sand containing vltavines, with remnants of vltavines deposited in a hollow on crystalline bedrock. The Slabošovka offers a different view of the surroundings. The 36-metre-high telecommunications tower serves as an observation tower and was built in 2002. From the 24-metre-high observation platform, you can see Kohout, the highest peak of the Slepičí hory, as well as Kleť in the Blanský les, the peaks of the Novohradské hory and Poluška.

St Prokop’s Church and museums

In the northern part of Besednice, the listed St Prokop’s Church stands on elevated ground. It forms a distinctive urban and landscape-defining feature; the Baroque church dates from 1738. Its complex includes statues of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint John of Nepomuk, as well as gravestones, a mortuary chapel and the walls of the historic cemetery.

Two permanent exhibitions provide a cultural focus. The Besednice Municipal Museum is dedicated to civil defence, while the Besednice Market Museum presents an exhibition about RAF pilot Vojtěch Smolík DFC. The local events calendar also includes the nationwide accordion gathering Setkání heligonkářů, held annually in Besednice in memory of the victims of the Poříčská disaster.

Chapels and the Slabošovka hiking destination

In the centre of Besednice stands the niche chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk, a few metres southwest of the municipal office building. It can be reached via a seven-step stone staircase and contains a polychrome statue of the saint in its niche. Services are regularly held in the Betlémská Chapel, on the first and third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m.

If you would like to explore the surroundings on foot, a green hiking trail marking leads from the village square in Besednice, followed by an unpaved farm track to Slabošovka. Besednice is also suitable as a starting point for excursions to the peaks of the Slepičí hory. When choosing your base, you can therefore decide between cultural discoveries in the village and a hike to a viewpoint. Besednice can also be reached by bus; the nearest railway station is in Kaplice.

More places to consider

If you would like to compare other travel destinations in addition to Bessenitz, you can also find Velešín, Dluhoste, Brloh, Rosenthal, Moyne, Deutsch Beneschau, Angern and Krumau here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Český Krumlov.