A protected wooden bell tower housing a bell dating from 1737 is one of Oznice’s notable historical landmarks. Other points of interest include memorial sites, a long craft tradition and trails through the Hostýnské vrchy. Depending on whether you are more interested in local history or a longer route, you can shape your stay around different priorities.

History at the Bell Tower and Memorial Sites

At Forajtka stands the wooden bell tower with two bells, one of which dates from 1737. After the First World War, the structure was moved to its present location. It originally stood beside house number 15, belonging to the Hrabovský family in Lípí. Near the municipal office, a stone cross recalls another chapter in the village’s history: it was erected in 1906 at the expense of the Zetek couple, beside the road that runs through Oznice.

A simple stone monument to T. G. Masaryk stands in the Píšková saddle. It is set in a grassy clearing with ornamental shrubs and young linden trees. Above Oznice, a restored partisan bunker stands on a hillside; it was reconstructed in 1980. Partisan Augustin Bártek from Brňov was killed there on 1 March 1945, fighting German police forces.

A sandstone block on the ridge at the cadastral boundary between Oznice and Banky bears the inscription “Kaiser Franz Josefs - Hohe 1898”. It commemorates Emperor Franz Joseph I’s visit in 1898. Also on a ridge in the Hostýnské vrchy, near the farmstead at Mrnuštíků on the boundary between Oznice and Branky, a wooden wayside shrine to the Virgin Mary stands between two mature linden trees. The simple shrine has a roof and a statue of the Virgin Mary. A Pentecost Mass is held at Mrnuštíků in May.

The traditional crafts of local residents included broom-making and the production of Wallachian shoes, carts, sledges, wooden tools and other wooden items. Together with the crosses and memorial sites, this craft tradition offers several different ways to explore the village’s history.

Marked Trails and a Cycling Loop

A yellow-marked trail about 13.5 kilometres long runs through the eastern foothills of the Hostýnské vrchy. The route offers numerous panoramic views of nearby ridges and the Vsetínské vrchy opposite. It starts at the Oznice ČSAD bus stop and continues via Kuželek, Lázy, Háje, Pod Chladnou and U Holáňů to the bridge in Pržno.

A longer option by bike is the 45-kilometre loop “Na Kelečský zámek z Valmezu”. It runs from Valašské Meziříčí via Poličná, Branky, Kelč, Kunovice, Loučka, Podolí, Oznice, Mikulůvka and Jarcová, then back to Valašské Meziříčí. The loop is suitable for e-bikes, gravel bikes and mountain bikes. Towards Oznice, it initially follows cycling route 6220 and passes through the village. From the “Nad Oznicí” junction, it continues along a yellow-marked trail before switching to the green marking.

The distances provide a clear comparison when choosing a route: about 13.5 kilometres on the yellow-marked trail versus 45 kilometres on the cycling loop. These are different options for a stay, and the two routes should not be treated as equivalent.

Oznička: Views and Access

The privately owned, nearly eight-metre-high wooden Oznička observation tower is located above Oznice in the Hostýnské vrchy, on the route between Mikulůvka and Oznice. It has been there since 2019; its viewing platform opened to the public in 2023. The covered platform is five metres above the ground. From there, you can see the neighbouring settlement and the surrounding hills, shaped by pastures. When visibility is good, the summit of Radhošť in the Beskydy can also be seen through an opening to the northeast.

The access route from Oznice climbs steeply for about 1,200 metres to a saddle. A mountain bike is better suited than a road bike for the final 200 metres; conditions may be affected by the weather and trail maintenance. The platform is freely accessible, and visitors climb at their own risk. As Oznička is privately owned, check access before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Lidečko, Hutisko Solanec, Seninka, Dolni Becva, Zašová, Velká Lhota, Lešná, Jarcová.

For the broader travel overview: Vsetín District.