Pitín: Between the Bílé Karpaty and Local History

Pitín combines the landscape of the Bílé Karpaty with trails, viewpoints, and an unusually vivid local history. The entire cadastral area lies in the central part of this landscape, which has been protected as a landscape conservation area since 1980. At the same time, Pitín lies on the upper course of the Olšava River. Those who choose accommodation in Pitín will find a place where experiences in nature, hiking routes, cycling connections, and cultural discoveries are closely linked to local history.

A landscape of river courses, meadows, and forests

Here, the Bílé Karpaty display their characteristic alternation of flower-rich orchid meadows and predominantly deciduous forests. For cyclists, the regional Bojkovska cycle route No. 5049 from Uherský Brod and the Beskydy-Carpathian Highway No. 46 meet in Pitín. This highway provides safe access to the central ridge of the Bílé Karpaty and to the Moravské Kopanice region. This makes it possible to combine different types of excursion in Pitín: a cycling trip along regional connections or an exploration of the landscape toward the ridge and Kopanice.

Nature trails with different themes

The Bojkovice Nature Trail runs from Bojkovice railway station through Pitín, Hostětín, and Šanov to the border elevation of Na koncích. Two route options are available: a 24 km long loop and a shorter 16 km loop; in total, 10 information panels provide information about the surroundings. One of these panels focuses on Pitín and traditional fruit varieties.

The Moravské Kopanice Nature Trail offers a different perspective. It leads to Pitínské Paseky and the Chapel of Our Lady of Kopanice. There, the trail provides information about the birdlife of the surrounding landscape. The route follows forest and field paths and is suitable for hikers and mountain bikers. This allows you to choose between a nature trail focusing on local history and traditional fruit varieties and a route centered on landscape and birdlife.

The Naokolo Hostětína Nature Trail also passes through Pitín. One of its stations is located at the Dub rodiny oak on Pitínské Jahodiska. Above Pitín, the trail offers views, in good visibility, of the towers of three nearby churches as well as of the more distant pilgrimage sites of Velehrad and Hostýn. The more than 100-year-old Dub rodiny oak stands on Jahodisko Hill above Pitín; from there, in good visibility, the view also extends over Pitín, the Pavlov Hills, Ždánický les, Chřiby, and the Vizovice Highlands.

Churches, chapels, and places of remembrance

The parish church of St. Stanislav is part of the local history; it was built in 1851 on the site of an older chapel. Beside the school stands a Baroque stone statue of the Virgin Mary with the Child. It is attributed to Josef Winterhalter and was acquired between 1758 and 1774.

Pitín is also associated with Josef Karel Matocha. He was born on May 14, 1888, as the fifth child of the farmer and blacksmith Josef Matocha in Pitín No. 59. A memorial plaque was unveiled on his birthplace. Josef Karel Matocha died in Olomouc on November 2, 1961, and is buried in the cemetery in his hometown of Pitín. Those who want to learn about local history not only through buildings but also through specific biographies will find a clear connection here between the person, the birthplace, and the cemetery.

The Chapel of Our Lady of Kopanice stands in Pitínské Paseky. It was built in 1990 and consecrated on September 8, 1991. On the altar is a figure of the Virgin Mary with the Child wearing the traditional dress of the Kopaničár people. Another expression of local tradition is the Pitěnský škrpál tourist hiking march, which is regularly organized by the Orel association. Around May 7, the Stanislavské hody celebration also takes place to commemorate the feast day of Saint Stanislav.

More impressions around Pitín

The Sochy v krajině project includes a group of 15 wooden sculptures connected by a trail. The sculptures are distributed across the cadastral areas of Hostětín, Pitín, Šanov, and Rokytnice; the Kráva wooden sculpture is located above Pitín. In summer, the swimming pool on the grounds of the NIVA sports club can be used. The Kolelač Reservoir can be seen from the viewpoint at Pitín's former railway station. At the reservoir, access to the reservoir and fishing were prohibited due to stricter water protection measures.

More places to choose from

For further orientation, you can also find Suchá Loz, Podolí, Hradčovice, Topolná, Částkov, Velehrad, Bánov and Vyškovec.

For the broader travel overview: Uherské Hradiště District.