Surroundings

POLESÍ - ČERNÁ LOUŽE

Polesí is a picturesque resort town located about 1.5 kilometres north of Rynoltice in a romantic valley surrounded by wooded peaks. It was founded by the teacher Sebastian Finke of Rynoltice, who sided with the nobility in the farmers’ uprising of 1680, for which the insurgents almost killed him. Because the town was not safe even after the uprising was defeated, the Countess Benedikta of Bredov sold him a piece of forested land on 20 August, 1683 next to the nearby coal tar furnace, where he was allowed to build a house. Later, when more people moved here, they named the village Finkendorf in honour of its founder.

At that time the inhabitants worked as weavers but practically all of the men turned to smuggling goods, which was a more lucrative activity. After smuggling was prohibited they mostly sold dry goods door-to-door. Finke’s house stood in the middle of the village close to a pond that later also served for swimming. On the shore of the pond stands a memorial stone with a plaque, which was constructed in 1983 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the village. To the south the Havran (“Raven”) lookout extends over the valley.

Polesí was part of Rynoltice until 1910, when it gained independence. The neighbouring village of Černá Louže, which is located along the road between Rynoltice and Horní Sedlo, also became part of Polesí at that time. Černá Louže, which is comprised primarily of holiday homes, evolved around a farming estate that was established here shortly after 1550. In the middle of the village there is a roadside chapel that dates from 1724. Today both villages are once again part of Rynoltice.