Pustá Polom: Meridian Fragment and Church Building History

Pustá Polom lies near the highest elevations of the Polomská plošina in the Nízký Jeseník, about 15 kilometers southeast of Opava. Extensive forests surround the town. For a general sense of direction, its location on the Polomská plošina and its position relative to Opava provide useful reference points; the forest landscape adds character to the surroundings. The approximate distance is a guide to locating the town. The plateau and forests describe different aspects of the landscape: the town’s location and its surrounding environment. Cultural sites and route connections also shape a stay in Pustá Polom.

The Meridian Fragment in the Center

The fragment of the 18th meridian passes directly through the center of Pustá Polom, beneath the primary school building. It is publicly accessible and is also located on a blue-marked hiking trail. Its design consists of a horizontal Corten steel line on a base of gray reinforced-concrete slabs. Its location and route connection answer two different orientation questions: Where is the fragment in the town, and which marked trail is it on? The description of its materials adds the object’s form to its location; its geographical designation and design come together at the same cultural site.

Church and Chapel

The existence of the Church of St. Martin in Pustá Polom is documented from 1276. The present parish church was built in 1803 in the Classicist style. These dates relate to different historical statements: 1276 documents the existence of the church, while 1803 dates the present building. The earlier date is therefore not the construction date of the present building, but places the church’s history in time. The Chapel of St. Anthony in Pustá Polom is also a cultural site; it is classified as an immovable cultural monument. Those interested in cultural history can distinguish between the historical documentation of the church, the construction date of the present parish church, and the chapel’s monument status.

Hiking and Cycling Route

The Meridian fragment is located on a blue-marked hiking trail. Cycling Route No. 6140 runs from Ostrava via Kyjovice and Pustá Polom, as well as Raduň, to Opava. In the route described, Pustá Polom comes after Kyjovice and before Raduň. This is a different kind of route orientation from the meridian’s connection to the trail: here, the focus is on the sequence of several towns; there, it is on the location of a specific cultural site on a hiking trail. If you include the cycling route in your plans, check its conditions and signage separately.

The information therefore covers two scales: the Meridian fragment is located as a single point in the center, while the cycling route places Pustá Polom in a sequence of towns between Ostrava and Opava. The history of the church’s construction adds a temporal perspective to the geographical orientation. This allows you to distinguish between a local cultural focus and a connection to a longer route when planning your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Markvartovice, Budišov Nad Budišovkou, Brumovice, Strahovice, Hať, Čermná Ve Slezsku, Stěbořice, Dobroslavice.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Opava.