Košařiska – Nature and Beskid Culture

Nature between Ostrý and Čerňavina

Košařiska is a typical foothill settlement with scattered buildings. The village derives its distinctive character from the combination of the Beskid landscape, historical traces of pastoralism and living local customs. A notable natural area is the Čerňavina Nature Reserve. It lies on the summit and steep slopes of Ostrý, which reaches 1,044.4 m above sea level in the Ropice Ridge. Here, therefore, you encounter not only a striking mountain but also a clearly defined protected landscape area.

Čerňavina includes natural beech stands of Carpathian type, interspersed with spruce, sycamore maple and fir at higher elevations in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids. Those who want to focus primarily on landscapes and nature observation when planning their trip will find a specific theme here to guide their choice of accommodation. The different tree species and the location on Ostrý give this natural area a distinctive and easily recognisable character.

Hiking with a local theme

The “In the Footsteps of Pastoralism in Košařiska” nature trail was created in 2012 for tourists and local residents. Its theme is traditional sheep farming and pastoralism, which played an important role in the history of the village. On an excursion, the landscape can therefore be viewed as more than just a mountain backdrop: the trail also establishes a connection with the local way of life. If you are travelling with your family, this theme provides an opportunity to combine nature and culture in one shared activity, without limiting the visit to simply viewing individual buildings.

The Turistická chata na Ostrém is also part of the village’s history. It has stood at its current location in Košařiska since 1935 and was built on a former cattle salaš on the south-western slope of Ostrý, in the “Na Ostrým” part of the village. The term salaš refers to the former mountain pastoralism. This historical context is particularly interesting if you want to connect the nature trail and the other evidence of regional tradition in your understanding of the area.

Customs, Crafts and Beskid Houses

Košařiska preserves its rural culture not only in stories. A re-enactment of the “Miyszani łowiec” custom takes place every May. It includes a craft market, performances by folk music groups, as well as food and drinks. The event thus combines a traditional presentation with a public cultural programme. In September, the “Rozsod” custom is also observed. In the past, sheep and other livestock were driven from the mountain sheepfolds to the village and redistributed to their owners. Both customs represent different stages of the historical pastoral cycle and give the village’s annual rhythm a cultural framework.

Several typical Beskid wooden houses have been preserved in Košařiska. Together with the events and the nature trail, they create a villagescape in which architecture, landscape and farming traditions stand closely alongside one another. The regional cuisine also has a historical connection with this way of life: at the end of summer, Bryndza was made from particularly rich milk and sold in the cities. This traditional form of production belongs to the history of pastoralism and should not be understood as a statement about current offerings.

Which accommodation suits your travel plans?

When looking for a hotel or other accommodation in Košařiska, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: should the trip centre primarily on the Čerňavina and Ostrý natural area, the nature trail devoted to pastoralism, or the village’s customs and wooden houses? The topics examined here provide various points of reference without presupposing any particular accommodation or its facilities. To continue searching for suitable destinations, you can also compare Bílá, Horní Tošanovice, Hrčava, Čeladná, Malenovice, Brušperk, Metylovice and Ropice.

For the overview of the wider travel area: Frýdek-Místek District.