Groß Umlowitz (Omlenice) is best understood through two distinct aspects: its landscape and the architectural history of Omlenička. The area around Omlenice contains two broad plateaus, separated by a continuous belt of forest. Open expanses and dense woodland thus lie side by side. To the east, views extend across the surrounding landscape to the distant Novohradské hory. This combination offers two clear points of interest for a stay: wide-ranging views and a landscape visibly divided by the belt of forest.
Hiking Trails and Landscape
The summit of Poluška lies in the Šumava foothills and reaches 919 metres. Red- and blue-marked hiking trails lead there northwards from Omlenička. The route can thus be described precisely: Poluška is the destination, Omlenička is the starting point, and the trails head north. The elevation identifies the summit as a topographic destination and adds a specific landmark to the distant views across the surrounding area.
The marked “Cesta odboje” route offers a different perspective. It passes through a landscape that includes the vanished villages of Velký and Malý Chuchelec and the hamlet of Lannovy domky. It also links the memorials to the victims of the Second World War near Omlenice and Výheň. This route brings landscape and remembrance history together: the sites of vanished villages lie within the landscape described, while the memorials provide a specific focus for remembering the victims of the war.
The name Poluška appears here in two contexts: as a summit in the Šumava foothills and as a nature park that includes parts of the cadastral area of Omlenice. This distinction is useful for orientation: the hiking trails lead to the summit, while the nature park reference locates parts of the cadastral area.
Baroque Architectural History in Omlenička
In Omlenička, the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint John of Nepomuk provides a distinct historical highlight. Built in 1722, it is a single-nave Baroque building with a two-storey Baroque tower. “Single-nave” describes a floor plan with one main nave; the term clarifies the layout, while the tower’s two storeys describe another aspect of its architectural structure. The furnishings date from the first half of the 18th century. The construction date and furnishings thus place the building in the same period. The church’s dedication, design and furnishings offer different ways to approach it: its religious significance, its architecture and its place in history.
Different Travel Interests
There is a clear difference when choosing a focus for your trip: the Poluška trails lead from Omlenička to a summit, while “Cesta odboje” links memorials with a landscape of vanished villages. Those with a stronger interest in architectural history will find another point of interest in the church in Omlenička, whose construction date and furnishings point to the 18th century. You can therefore choose between hiking, remembrance culture and architecture as different reasons to travel.
Discover more destinations: Thurmplandles, Ceske Chalupy, Malsching, Rosenthal, Borova, Oberhaid, Podesdorf, Cerna V Posumavi.
For the regional travel overview: Okres Český Krumlov.
