Vanůvek: Wayside Shrine, Ceramics and Routes

Vanůvek offers several distinct points of interest: a stone wayside shrine in the southern part of the village, a ceramics workshop and routes that extend beyond the village. When planning your trip, it is important to distinguish between these: the wayside shrine is in Vanůvek, while some route information refers to a longer route or the cadastral area. There is also a specific local place to stay: Vanůvecký dvůr is a guesthouse.

A stone wayside shrine as a cultural highlight

In the southern part of Vanůvek stands a tall stone wayside shrine on a prismatic base with diamond-point rustication. Above it is a slender column shaft. Its distinctive square capital supports a prismatic chapel with a pronounced concave roof. The structure can be read from the bottom up: the geometrically articulated base, the slender shaft, the angular capital and the chapel. The contrast between the broad base and slender shaft is what gives it its proportions. The square capital creates a clear transition to the chapel, while the concave roofline draws the upper section inward. The term “diamond-point rustication” describes the distinctive surface treatment of the base; a capital is the upper part of a column shaft. This makes it possible to distinguish the individual components and then appreciate them as a unified form. For travelers interested in architecture, the wayside shrine offers a tangible local feature whose impact comes from the interplay of the base, column and chapel.

Ceramics and cycling in the area

The village’s cultural character also includes Ateliér Živá fantazie, a ceramics workshop in Vanůvek. The wayside shrine and the workshop offer contrasting creative highlights: one focuses on the articulated stone structure, the other on ceramic craftsmanship. The cultural attractions therefore go beyond architecture. The landscape of the Jihlavské vrchy hills is also well suited to cycling. In addition, Cycling Route No. 16, from Slavonice to Přibyslav Hlinsko, passes through the cadastral area of Vanůvek. The route refers to a specific long-distance course; the statement about the landscape concerns cycling in the surrounding area. This distinction helps you tell apart a named cycling connection and the broader landscape.

Comparing the routes

The Roštejn Route offers another way to explore the region. It runs from Telč through Vanůvek to Řídelov and then, among other places, to Pařezitý Pond, Roštejn Castle, the source of the Dyje, Vývozní Pond and the Oslednice observation tower. The route is 47 km long in total. Vanůvek is therefore part of a longer regional route; the other named destinations are stops along the route, not individual sights in the village. By contrast, Cycling Route No. 16 is described by its endpoints, Slavonice and Přibyslav Hlinsko, and its passage through the cadastral area of Vanůvek. The information answers different planning questions: the Roštejn Route has a total distance and several named stops, while the endpoints and course of Cycling Route No. 16 provide orientation. Check current route conditions before your trip.

Staying overnight and getting here

Vanůvecký dvůr is a guesthouse in Vanůvek that offers accommodation. The listed phone number for the guesthouse is 724 721 979. Ask the provider about availability and current operating conditions before finalizing your overnight stay. Public transport in Vanůvek is provided by buses; one stop is in the built-up part of the village. Check the timetable for your travel date before planning to arrive or continue your journey by bus. When choosing your accommodation, you can consider these questions separately: Is there suitable accommodation in Vanůvek, and how can you factor the bus service into your plans?

Discover more destinations: Zvolenovice, Vystrčenovice, Krasonice, Řídelov, Puklice, Nová Ríse, Černíč, Mrákotín U Telče.

Go to the regional travel overview: Jihlava District.