Kienberg (Loučovice) brings together paper mill history, the Vltava and churches on both banks. Marked hiking and cycling routes complement these cultural and landscape themes. When planning a trip, you can choose between local history, river scenery and excursions along designated routes.
Paper Mill and Railway
The paper mill in Loučovice was founded by Arnošt Porák in the 1880s. Around the turn of the 20th century, the mill employed more than 1,000 people. These two dates put the mill’s history in context: after its founding, the workforce reached a size that gives an indication of the scale of the operation around 1900. The railway line from Certlov to Lipno offers another historical perspective. It was built between 1909 and 1911 and was the second electrified railway line in Bohemia. Its construction came after the paper mill was founded; together, these facts illustrate different chapters in the history of industry and transport.
The Vltava and Protected Landscapes
The Vyšebrodsko Nature Park, the Medvědí hora Natural Monument and the Čertova stěna–Luč National Nature Reserve lie within the cadastral area of Loučovice. The Rašeliniště Kapličky protected area is also located there. These names give the landscape a concrete context: they refer to several protected areas within the same cadastral area, without combining them into a single area.
In the Čertova stěna–Luč area, the Vltava flows through a natural riverbed filled with large granite blocks. This stretch of the river is known as Čertovy proudy. The name is also associated with the history of sport: the first annual whitewater slalom on Čertovy proudy took place on Sunday, 26 September 1954. The race was organised by the TJ Tatran Loučovice water sports club.
Churches on Both Banks
The Vltava provides a geographical reference for distinguishing between two religious buildings in Loučovice: the Church of St Procopius is on the left bank, and the Church of St Ulrich is on the right. The Chapel of St Procopius, also known as the Chapel of St Jost, is listed as a cultural monument in the Czech heritage register. The chapel’s foundation in 1361 is attributed to Jošt (?) of Rosenberg; this attribution is uncertain. The chapel was rebuilt in the 16th century.
The Church of St Ulrich has a different building history. It was built in the 1480s on the site of an earlier Chapel of St Theobald, founded by Oldřich of Rosenberg in 1361. The church burned down in the 16th century and was restored between 1640 and 1644. Two different stories of local history thus sit side by side: the uncertain attribution of the Procopius Chapel’s foundation and the documented sequence of predecessor chapel, church construction, fire and restoration at the Church of St Ulrich.
Hiking and Cycling
Marked hiking and cycling routes connect Loučovice with Lipno nad Vltavou, Vyšší Brod and the Austrian border region. When planning, it helps to first distinguish between hiking and cycling, then match the destinations mentioned to the focus of your outing. The routes connect the town with several destinations, so they need not be thought of as a single circular route.
Discover more destinations: Nové Domky, Český Krumlov, Vyšší Brod, Hořice, Borová, Brloh, Třítěž, Vyšný.
For the broader travel overview: Český Krumlov District.
