A green-marked hiking trail leads from the square in Olešnice v Orlických horách to the observation tower on Feistův kopec. It is considered the shortest and easiest route to the tower and is also suitable for strollers. The tower is one kilometre from the town centre; from the top, the view extends across the Orlické hory, the Krkonoše Mountains, Broumovsko and the Polish Stolové hory. Seasonal conditions can affect how easy the trail is to use. The tower therefore provides a specific point of reference for anyone wishing to combine their stay with a hike and views of several mountain landscapes.
Trails, views and landscape
The red-marked Jiráskova cesta also passes through Olešnice; the entire route is 100 kilometres long. This length refers to the long-distance trail as a whole, not to a section within the town. This puts the local access route to the Feistův kopec tower alongside part of a longer hiking route. Another marked trail leads to Sedloňovský vrch.
Near Olešnice, at Zelené údolí, the Jiráskova cesta reaches the Orlické hory Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Orlické hory) and from there climbs to the observation tower on Vrchmezí. The tower on Vrchmezí is a different destination from the one on Feistův kopec. When comparing hiking options, you can use the specified destinations and trail markings as a guide.
The Feistův kopec geological educational trail has nine stops and passes through a particularly distinctive geomorphological landform. The stops structure the educational trail, whose subject is the shape of the terrain. Around Olešnice, the Olešenka stream and its tributaries also shape green valleys among forests, pastures and meadows. Alongside the viewpoints, streams and open landscapes are therefore among the described impressions of the surrounding area.
Local history and cultural heritage
Utzův betlém was reassembled and made operational before being opened to the public at the town hall in Olešnice v Orlických horách on 30 April 2000. Its drive system includes a metal transmission shaft that ends in a wooden pulley. This technical detail draws attention not only to the Bethlehem scene itself, but also to its construction.
The museum exhibition opened to visitors in 2004, after the displayed objects had been restored and the museum had moved to new premises. Today, the museum displays historical objects and furniture from the local region. For a stay focused on cultural history, this offers a different emphasis from the hiking trails: the exhibition connects local history with objects and furniture from the surrounding area.
The grounds of the Church of St Mary Magdalene include the protected sculptural ensemble Svatého Příbuzenstva. It complements the museum and exhibition themes with a protected work in a religious setting.
Winter sports and travel planning
Hartman Olešnice Ski Resort is suitable for children, beginners and advanced skiers and offers a ski and snowboard school for children and beginners. Its facilities include three ski runs, groomed daily and covered with artificial snow, with a combined length of more than 2,000 metres. Night skiing is available on a lit, 1,100-metre run. As availability and winter operations may depend on the season, check current operating details before your trip. Winter sports thus offer a different seasonal focus from the town’s hiking trails and cultural attractions.
Discover more destinations: Semechnice, České Meziříčí, Nová Ves U Albrechtic, Mokré, Kostelec Nad Orlicí, Trnov, Bartosovice V Orlickych Horach, Byzhradec
For the broader travel overview: Okres Rychnov Nad Kněžnou.
