A chapel dating from 2021, the history of the glassworks since 1875 and the “Včelnička–Bohdalín” cycling tour show Včelnička from different perspectives. Sacred and industrial history take centre stage in the village; the route also takes in the wider region. This offers a clear choice for your stay between cultural history and cycling.
Chapel and Local History
The Chapel of Saint Anne was built in 2021. Inside, there is a cross and an image of Saint Anne. The built-up area of Včelnička is classified as an archaeological area of Category I (ÚAN I); the relevant entry in the National Heritage Institute’s register was updated in 2023. This places a specific sacred building alongside an archaeological classification of the built-up area. Jan Jiří Rückl is also part of the village’s history: he was born in Včelnička on 12 May 1900 into a traditional Czech glassmaking family.
Jan Jiří Rückl’s biography adds a personal note alongside the history of the business: one thread leads to his birth and family background, the other to the glassworks’ development and production.
Glassworks History and Glass Details
Antonín Rückl established the glassworks in Včelnička in 1875. It was expanded in 1893, when a water-powered grinding shop was also built. The glassworks specialised in “zlacený granát”, a red glass with gold relief decoration; its products were exported. The glassworks building, now closed, is a reminder of the former glory of Antonín Rückl’s glassworks.
You can also encounter glass in a different way in the surrounding area. On walks around Včelnička or Kamenice nad Lipou, you may come across picturesque glass globes and finials decorating the fences of houses and holiday homes. Alongside historic production, there are decorative glass details on fences throughout the wider area.
Cycling Tour to Bohdalín
A municipal tour description from April 2023 says that the “Včelnička–Bohdalín” cycling tour follows a blue-marked hiking trail for most of its length. It also mentions the paved road from Včelnička to Vodná. Check current trail conditions before setting off. Read the details separately: the paved road is the specifically named section to Vodná, while the blue-marked hiking trail makes up most of the tour. In the wider region, the route reaches the unforested, 642-metre-high hill of Ve Vrších; Včelnička can be seen from there. The view adds a regional landscape perspective to the village’s history.
When looking for a holiday rental, consider what you would like to focus on: would you rather devote your stay to the village and glassworks history, or include the described cycling tour into the wider area? Your answer will point you towards the side of Včelnička that best matches your travel interests.
Discover more destinations: Vystrkov, Cervená Recice, Rovná U Hořepníku, Jiřice U Humpolce, Syrov, Vyskytná, Žirov, Knizata.
For the overview of the wider region: Pelhřimov District.
