Ujčín

Ujčín is a small village belonging to the Kolinec municipality, Klatovy District, in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic, set in the Ostružná river valley on the edge of the Šumava foothills — visited mainly for its Renaissance manor house and its closeness to Velhartice Castle.

Where is Ujčín and how do you get there

The village lies along the Ostružná river valley, on the road that links Velhartice with Kolinec, some 2 km from the centre of Kolinec, the municipality Ujčín belongs to. Around 100 people live here today. Close by are the Tajanovský mill and the hamlet of Konín, while Velhartice Castle, perched on a rocky spur above the river, is only about 3 km away.

How old is Ujčín and where its history begins

The earliest written record of Ujčín dates to 1379, although the settlement is believed to have been founded around the middle of the 14th century. Some local historians tie its origins to gold panning once carried out in the Ostružná's waters. That same 1379 record also mentions a tvrz — a small fortified manor — standing here, a structure that later vanished.

What is there to see in Ujčín

The Renaissance manor house

The manor house that survives today was built at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, likely on the site of the older medieval tvrz. The building has two wings, arcades along its east front, and a squat octagonal tower on its southern side. Its probable founder was Václav Hájek of Robčice, who bought the village before 1589 and held it until his death in 1601.

The Chapel of St Wenceslas

The village's other notable building is the Chapel of St Wenceslas, put up much later, in the second half of the 19th century. It has a plain rectangular plan with a triangular gable on its western side, and its east-facing entrance carries an inscription invoking Saint Wenceslas as protector of the Czech land, for the people living now and for generations still to come.

The surrounding area: Velhartice Castle and the Šumava foothills

The biggest attraction within a few kilometres of Ujčín is Velhartice Castle, a large, well-preserved fortress standing on a rocky promontory above the Ostružná, right at the edge of Velhartice village. That makes Ujčín a convenient stop between two of the region's notable sights, and a good base for exploring the Šumava foothills on foot or by bike.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Ujčín located? Ujčín belongs to the Kolinec municipality in the Klatovy District, Plzeň Region. It lies in the Ostružná river valley, on the road between Velhartice and Kolinec, about 2 km from Kolinec.

What can you see in Ujčín? The village's main sight is a Renaissance manor house from the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, with an arcaded façade and an octagonal tower, plus the 19th-century Chapel of St Wenceslas with its inscribed entrance.

How far is Velhartice Castle from Ujčín? Velhartice Castle, built on a rocky spur above the Ostružná River, is about 3 km from Ujčín, making it one of the standout sights in this part of the Šumava foothills.

How old is Ujčín? The first written mention of Ujčín is from 1379, though the village is thought to have been founded around the mid-14th century, possibly in connection with gold panning along the Ostružná River.