Pustevny is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Beskydy, lying between Radhošť and Tanečnice peaks at 1,018 meters above sea level. It takes its name from the hermits who came here to live, the last of which died in 1874. Wooden houses built in the style of folk architecture are characteristic for Pustevny. In 1891 the Radhošť Mountain Club opened a lodge here called Poustevně.
Several years later saw the addition of several other buildings, those being Šumná, Maměnka and Libušín. Well-known architect Dušan Jurkovič designed these cabin-like structures in the secession style with an abundance of stylized embellishments. Included among the wooden structures is a century-old Wallachian bell tower with colorful ornaments and also designed by Dušan Jurkovič.
Pustevny forms a major crossroads for tourist trails. You can get to the top either by chairlift from Trojanovice or else by the road that leads from Prostřední Bečva. From Pusteveny you can head east and reach the only mountain lake in the Beskydy at Čertův mlýn (Devils Mill) at 1,207 m above sea level. According to legend, this mountain was named after a mill built by the devil at a fifty-meter long channel that ran along the peak. This attraction of nature illustrates the breaking force and movement of godul sandstone blocks.
If you head west, the nature trail will take you by the statue of Radegast, the god of hospitality, fertility and harvests on the peak of Radhošť (1,129 m), which offers you an incredible view of the surroundings. Further along on Radhošť stands a statue of Cyril and Methodius at the Chapel of Cyril and Methodius. The statue is facing away from the chapel in order to greet arriving visitors.
There are lots of things to bring you up here during the summer months. You can rent mountain scooters and bikes; you can even try Nordic walking.
But life on Pustevny is not idle in wintertime either. There are many popular ski centers here offering 11 lifts and 9 slopes and scores of kilometers of cross-country trails. A ski park has been set up for children with a 30 m long sliding carpet, while adults can put on ski shoes and check out places normally impossible to reach in winter. The entire area is lighted, so you can make your trek even during nighttime. If you would like to try another type of adrenaline sports, you can borrow a pair of snowblades and have a go at something you will never experience otherwise on normal skis!
