In Arnostov, a river landscape meets traces of the area's former industry and transport history. The village lies in the Šumava Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Šumava) on the Blanice, where the Puchéřský potok flows into it. The water and historical evidence offer two concrete starting points for exploring the village: the riverbanks and the places associated with the glassworks and forest railway.

Rivers and Protected Landscape

The Blanice National Nature Monument lies near Arnostov. It is an extensive area of meadows, marshes and forests in the Blanice catchment. It is a distinct landscape feature in addition to Arnostov's location in the Šumava Protected Landscape Area. Those interested in nature by the water will find two different scales here: the specific confluence in the village and the larger area along the catchment.

Walks along the banks of the Blanice and Puchrovský potok near Arnostov offer the opportunity to spot dippers, kingfishers and black storks. These species provide a particular focus for a walk by the water; however, sightings are not guaranteed. There is also evidence of changes to the landscape caused by animals along the Puchéřský potok: a report dated 13 August 2026 noted that beavers had built dams there in recent years. Such structures can change over time.

Hiking and Cycling

Hiking Route No. 3 leads from Arnostov via Sedmidomí and Čtyři domy to Na Skále. A red-marked hiking trail runs via Spálenec and Arnostov to Volary, passing places associated with the former narrow-gauge railway. The two routes therefore differ in both their course and their historical associations: Route No. 3 follows the sequence of places listed, while the red-marked trail also connects with the railway. Check access regulations before setting out on a hike.

For a cycling trip, Cycle Route No. 1252 runs from the junction near Křišťanov via Arnostov and the Záhvozdský potok to Pernek. This lets you choose a route according to your preferred mode of travel and the destinations listed, without confusing the hiking and cycling routes. You should also check for possible access restrictions before cycling this route.

Glassworks and Forest Railway: Historical Traces

The glassworks in Arnostov finally closed in 1945. The only remnant of the former business is the owner's villa, known as the Zámeček. The building dates from the early 19th century and was the former villa of Wilhelm Kralik, the glassworks owner. The history of the house therefore predates the final closure of the glassworks; these are two distinct points of reference for the village's history.

The former forest railway can also be understood through various pieces of evidence. Three steam locomotives named Wilma, Ludvík and Lisel operated on the Arnostov Forest Railway. In Arnostov, the original railway trackbed with the remains of sleepers and an old stone bridge also recall the former line. Unlike the glassworks, for which the villa is named as the sole remnant, the forest railway's history includes both the recorded locomotive names and surviving structural traces.

Those who wish to include both nature and local history can use the riverbanks as a starting point for observing nature and choose among the described routes according to their course. The history of the glassworks centres on the Zámeček; the forest railway is associated both with named locomotives and with remnants of its track. This distinction helps keep Arnostov's historical themes separate rather than attributing all the traces to a single story.

Discover more destinations: Bušanovice, Lužice U Netolic, Ceske Zleby, Chroboly, Želnava, Vacov, Záblatí U Prachatic, Radhostice

For the overview of the wider area: Okres Prachatice.