Moravian-Silesian Region by Bookletia

LOCATION AND MAP OF THE MORAVIAN-SILESIAN REGION

Transport accessibility EUROPE

By rail Rail transit corridor II and III – connection with many large European cities without changing trains (Prague, Bratislava, Košice, Vienna, Budapest, Warsaw, Minsk, Moscow and others).

Moravian-Silesian Region travel guide

www.idos.cz

By air Leoš Janáček Airport Ostrava – modern international airport providing links to various European cities and the Mediterranean inseason. www.airport-ostrava.cz

By road D1 motorway – on the Ostrava – Brno section this is known as Via Moravica. Part of the trans-European traffic corridor being built from North (Sweden) to South (Italy). By motorway, Ostrava is accessible from Prague, Brno and Bratislava. A connection with Gliwice (Poland) on the A4 motorway (Dresden – Wroclaw – Katowice – Krakow) is being completed.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Transport in the region Integrated transport system of the Moravian-Silesian Region – this combines rail and bus transport. The most important traffic hub is Ostrava. Lines from OstravaSvinov railway station lead to the Jeseníky, Opava Silesia and Poodří regions. From Ostrava-Main Station, you can get to the Beskids as well as the Těšín Silesia and Poodří regions. Public transport systems operate in large cities (Ostrava, Havířov, Opava, Karviná, Frýdek-Místek, Třinec, Orlová, Nový Jičín and Český Těšín). www.kodis.cz

Moravian-Silesian Region

www.msregion.cz

28. října 117, 702 18 Ostrava tel.: +420 595 622 222 fax: +420 595 622 126

Emergency telephone numbers Fire Brigade 150 Rescue Service 155 Czech Police 158 Municipal Police 156 Single European emergency number 112

This project was co-financed by the European Union. NOT FOR SALE

Moravian-Silesian Region

MORAVIAN-SILESIAN REGION

HISTORY AND POPULAR FIGURES

NATURE

CASTLES AND CHATEAUX

ARCHITECTURE

TECHNICAL MONUMENTS AND ATTRACTIONS

TRADITIONS AND MODERN PRESENCE

RECREATION

SPAS AND RELAXATION

TRAVELING THE REGION

CALENDAR OF BEST EVENTS

BON APPÉTIT

JESENÍK MOUNTAINS (JESENÍKY)

OPAVIAN SILESIA (OPAVSKÉ SLEZSKO)

OSTRAVA AREA (OSTRAVSKO)

Welcome to our region!

TĚŠÍN SILESIA (TĚŠÍNSKÉ SLEZSKO)

POODŘÍ – MORAVIAN KRAVAŘE AREA (POODŘÍ – MORAVSKÉ KRAVAŘSKO)

BESKYDY MOUNTAINS (BESKYDY)

www.jeseniky.net www.europraded.cz www.beskydy.com www.beskydy-valassko.cz www.infocentrum.opava.cz www.opava-city.cz www.ostrava.cz www.ostravainfo.cz www.moravskekravarsko.cz www.regionpoodri.eu www.tesinskeslezsko.cz

www.msregion.cz

This travel guide of the Moravian-Silesian Region is designed to help you find your way around and to offer you attractive ideas for spending free time in Northern Moravia and Silesia. It briefly describes the history of the Moravia-Silesian corner of the Czech Republic. You will meet a host of figures who made this region famous here and abroad. We’ll show you to the best castles and chateaux and uncover their hidden mysteries, and show you how to get there. We’ll offer tours of architectural treasures in local urban and village monument reserves. We’ll help you discover the magic of industrial monuments, and lead you to museums and galleries. We’ll let you wander along pond banks and deep forests of our mountains. We’ll clue you in to the best swimming in nature and even where to water ski. We’ll lead you up a hill from which you can paraglide down. We’ll tire you out on mountain hikes in the Beskydy and Jeseník Mountains, only to pamper you in local spas. We’ll drag you off to the opera or ballet. We’ll get your dancing feet moving at music festivals. We’ll let you peek into our cookbooks and brew beer for you the best that we know how. We’ll provide you a list of practical information to use to make your vacation in the Moravian-Silesian Region simply great. Don’t forget that this is truly a brief publication that couldn’t possibly contain all the region has to offer. When visiting, we certainly recommend stopping in at the local tourist information centers or plan your vacation or excursions by logging onto the website www.msregion.cz. We wish you lots of positive experiences and comfortable travel. Welcome to the Moravian-Silesian Region!

HISTORY AND POPULAR FIGURES

JESENÍK MOUNTAINS (JESENÍKY)

OPAVIAN SILESIA (OPAVSKÉ SLEZSKO)

OSTRAVA AREA BRUNTÁL

(OSTRAVSKO)

OPAVA

OSTRAVA FULNEK FRÝDEK-MÍSTEK

POODŘÍ – MORAVIAN KRAVAŘE AREA (POODŘÍ – MORAVSKÉ KRAVAŘSKO)

BESKYDY MOUNTAINS (BESKYDY)

ČESKÝ TĚŠÍN

TĚŠÍN SILESIA (TĚŠÍNSKÉ SLEZSKO)

To really get to know the Moravian-Silesian Region, its history must be explored. The attentive visitor can see from the map that this region is not like the others. Various powers fought here, and the area has always occupied the periphery of nations to which it belonged. Its riches always formed a good excuse for war’s return. Even today, the relationship between Moravia and Silesia reflects a chain of historical events that changed the map of Central Europe. Many meaningful figures from Moravia and Silesia’s juncture became world-famous through knowledge, influence or sports achievements. Sigmund Freud, Jarek Nohavica, František Palacký, Ivan Lendl, Leoš Janáček and Jiří Raška to name a few... Did you notice the diversity?

HISTORY AND POPULAR FIGURES Jarek Nohavica, books by Jan Balabán disappear from bookshelves before the ink dries, and our region’s athletes are living icons in their disciplines. Others include famous Kopřivnice native Emil Zátopek and his wife Dana from Karviná, ski jump genius Jiří Raška of Frenštát, Ostrava’s Ivan Lendl or Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitová from the pretty town of Fulnek.

Šipka Cave

Findings show that prehistoric man settled the region. One of the oldest finds is a Neanderthal child’s jawbone in Šipka cave in Štramberk, where people took shelter over 32,000 years ago. The Landek Venus statuette dated 23,000 years old is ample proof of human inhabitation. Archaeologists have proven that man’s first use of black coal occurred on Ostrava’s Landek Hill. Finds in Chotěbuz-Podobora indicate the first Slavic inhabitants, where a Slavic stronghold was uncovered and restored. Newcomers arrived in the 12th century during German colonization. The Amber Road leading through here joined Europe from north to south. The predominant medieval cities were centers of the Silesian princedoms, Opava and Těšín. Nový Jičín was a dominant Moravian city. Industrialization came in the latter18th century, sparking great development in the region. The textile and glassmaking industries grew in the west (Krnov, Vrbno pod Pradědem), with mining in the east (Orlová, Karviná, Ostrava), and affiliated operations of iron works and chemical and engineering plants. Most the Moravian-Silesian Region is made up of the former area of Austrian Silesia, taking up parts of the former Silesian princedoms of Těšín, Krnov, Nisa and Opava, and several small domains. The lesser part of to6

day’s region lies within the erstwhile territory of the Moravian Margraviate. Allegiance to historical lands is seen in the region’s coat of arms. The Silesian eagle in a yellow field is on top beside the Moravian eagle in a blue field. The third field bears the Ostrava coat of arms and the last halved field has the Opavian Princedom coat of arms and a variation of the Těšín Princedom coat of arms.

Popular figures Many important persons were born in Northern Moravia and Silesia. The world-famous founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud was born in the Moravian town of Příbor. Nearby Hukvaldy is famous for its native son, classical music composer Leoš Janáček. The most famous Czech historian František Palacký came from Hodslavice near Nový Jičín. The Silesian village Hynčice rightfully celebrates its native son, the founder of genetics Johann Gregor Mendel. Opava and Krnov are proud to have given the world genius architects, Joseph M. Olbrich and Leopold Bauer. And today’s greats? The entire nation sings with

Johann Gregor Mendel The natural scientist and father of genetics was born on July 20, 1822 in Hynčice (today a district of Vražné). After studying in Lipník, Opava and Olomouc, he joined Brno’s Augustinian monastery, of which he was abbot from 1868 until his death in 1884. The importance of Mendel’s work was understood only after his passing. British geneticist William Bateson had Mendel’s work published in German in Brno in 1865 translated into English. This introduced Mendel’s Laws of Heredity to the entire scientific world. Today, you can visit Mendel’s family estate with a museum exhibit dedicated to him (www.mendel-rodnydum.vrazne.cz). Leoš Janáček Composing genius Leoš Janáček was born in Hukvaldy on July 3, 1854. This leading figure in Czech and international modernism is mostly famous for his operas. His greats include The Makropulos Affair, The Cunning Little Vixen and Sinfonietta. Janáček is everywhere in the region; at the festivals Janáček May and Janáček Hukvaldy, Janáček beer, Leoš Janáček Intl. Airport, Janáček Conservatory, and you hear the melody of The Lachian Dances when arriving by train to Ostrava. Come to the festival Janáček Hukvaldy, where you can see the composer’s monument (www.janacek-nadace.cz). František Palacký The famous historian and public life organizer František Palacký, deemed Father of the Nation, was born on June 14, 1798 in Hodslavice. His basic education came at a famous educational institute at Chateau Kunín, and he lat-

er studied at the Evangelical Lyceum in Trenčín and Prešpurk. He intensively engaged in philosophy, aesthetics and the study of languages. The greatest work by Palacký is without a doubt his five-volume The History of the Czech Nation in Bohemia and Moravia (www.muzeum.novy-jicin.cz). Sigmund Freud The famous scientist was born on May 6, 1856 in Příbor. As a child, the family moved to Vienna, where Freud spent nearly all his life. He was a physician, neurologist, psychoanalysis pioneer and one of the world’s mostquoted personalities. Though much of his findings have long since been exceeded, they remain the basis of psychological knowledge. In Příbor, you can visit the Freud family home exhibit or try out the psychotherapeutic couch (www.freudmuseum.cz). Petr Bezruč Poet, rebel and literary conscious of Silesia. Though he only published a single poem collection, it immensely influenced Czech poetry. Petr Bezruč became a symbol of resistance and national pride. Today, each Czech city has a Bezruč street and in Northern Moravia and Silesia, you’ll see even more: picnics in Bezruč Park, trips to Bezruč Lookout Tower, the Bezruč Climb up Lysá hora Mountain, an evening in Petr Bezruč Theatre, hours of frivolity at the Bezruč Opava Festival, iron collectors in the Petr Bezruč Mine...

Sigmund Freud

NATURE JESENÍK MOUNTAINS (JESENÍKY)

OPAVIAN SILESIA (OPAVSKÉ SLEZSKO)

OSTRAVA AREA BRUNTÁL

(OSTRAVSKO)

OPAVA

OSTRAVA

ČESKÝ TĚŠÍN

TĚŠÍN SILESIA (TĚŠÍNSKÉ SLEZSKO)

FULNEK FRÝDEK-MÍSTEK

POODŘÍ – MORAVIAN KRAVAŘE AREA (POODŘÍ – MORAVSKÉ KRAVAŘSKO)

BESKYDY MOUNTAINS

The natural western boundary of the Moravian-Silesian Region is formed by the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains (highest is Praděd, 1,491 m ASL), a part of the Czech Massif. To the southeast lie the mountains Tešín Beskydy and Moravian-Silesian Beskydy, a part of the Outer Western Carpathians. The Moravian Gate separating the Czech Massif and the Carpathians gradually gives way to the Ostrava Basin. The region’s most important river is the Odra, rising in the Odry Hills. The area around its meanders forms the Poodří Protected Landscape Area. The highest peaks of the Jeseník and Beskydy Mountains, pretty foothills, meadow forests, ponds and fertile lowlands – this is the MoravianSilesian Region, a true natural beauty despite its previously predominant industrial nature.

(BESKYDY)

NATURE

Jeseník Mountains

TIP

www.jeseniky.net www.europraded.cz

The Jeseník Mountains Protected Landscape Area forms the region’s western part. Deep valleys with mountain streams, mysterious moors and mountains awash in legends offer chances for many great summer and winter activities. The Jeseník Mountains are a true oasis for all those who love raw nature. Unlike other Czech mountains, places here still exist nearly untouched by hu-

Mionší Primeval Forest B

Jeseník Mountain ridges Pustevny

man activity. The highest mountain here is Praděd (1,491 m ASL); a TV transmission tower with lookout platform stands on top. This is the highest-elevated lookout point in the country. Visitors enjoy the Rešov Falls near Rýmařov and for instance Peter’s Stones near Ovčárna.

Praděd – TV transmission tower

TIP

Rešov Falls 49°52‘49.13“ N, 17°12‘28.35“ E

map page 8

The falls are situated on the Olomouc and Moravian-Silesian regional borders by the pretty hamlet of Rešov. The Huntava Stream formed a vast canyon gorge with waterfalls and pools. Visitors can admire the rare flora and fauna. If you like climbing, you can try scaling Devil’s Wall rising up 35 m.

Beskydy Mountains www.beskydy.com www.beskydy-valassko.cz

In the region’s southeast part lies our largest protected landscape area where you can see tracks of lynx, wolves and bears. The Jablunkov Pass separates the Moravian-Silesian and Silesian Beskydy. The highest Beskydy mountain is legendary Lysá hora (1,323 m ASL), rising up over Silesia. Its peak renders a spectacular view. When looking north, you can see deep into Poland, and turning around, you 10

can see the jagged peaks of the High Tatras in clear weather. Mostly forested, the Beskydy have been winter and summer hiking center for over a century. Resorts with fantastic amenities, traditional folk culture and hospitality of the locals attract visits by the tens of thousands each year.

Lysá hora

49°32‘28.21“ N, 18°39‘25.33“ E map page 8

Mionší Primeval Forest Reserve lies in the Beskydy north of the Horní Lomná resort. The pine and beech primeval forest 170 ha in size reaches an elevation of 950 m ASL. A 7-km long nature trail runs along its edge, and is indeed worth the effort. After all, when was the last time you saw trees standing 60 m over your head?

Poodří – Moravian Kravaře Area www.moravskekravarsko.cz www.regionpoodri.eu

The region’s newest protected landscape area straddles Moravia and Silesia. The meandering river Odra is the axis of a land formed by numerous ponds and meadow forests. Poodří is the region’s giant garden. The lovely countryside between the Jeseník Mountains above the Odra and southern parts of Ostrava attracts visitors from near and far. Floodplain meadows, meadow forests, dead arms and meanders are of special importance. Regularly flooding meadows form a series of important biotopes in Poodří, with an abundance of rare

Common Kingfisher

flora and fauna species. Poodří is also one of the last places in Europe to see the Common Kingfisher in the wild. The peaceful, romantic countryside not far from industrial Ostrava offers the right conditions especially for cycling and summer hikes.

Sunset over Poodří

NATURE

Ostrava Area www.ostrava.cz www.ostravainfo.cz

Ostrava Zoo C

TIP

map page 8

Ostrava Zoo is the nation’s second largest zoo, welcoming just under half a million tourists each year. The zoo is proud of many successes, such as the first baby elephant born in the CR. Visitors should also tour the botanical trails, sharing the world of water, forests and shadows. In the Stromovka forest park where the zoo lies, you can find rest right in the city center.

Terezie-Ema Slag Heap

The area making up today’s Ostrava changed drastically over two centuries of industrial influence, but you can still find pretty natural nooks that form great places for relaxation especially for local citizens. The National Nature Park Polanecká

Těšín Beskydy

Pretty mountain meadows and pastures are attractive for their peacefulness. The landscape changes dramatically from Těšín northward. In the vast area between Karviná, Orlová

and Havířov, a distinctive cultural landscape is formed worthy of your attention. Cyclists and winter sports enthusiasts both fall in love with Těšín Silesia.

Opavian Silesia www.opava-city.cz www.infocentrum.opava.cz

Rezavka

niva, the Natural Monuments Rezavka, Turkov, Štěpán, the legendary Terezie-Ema Slag Heap, and ancient Landek Hill – this is but a brief listing of places in Ostrava that are still natural wonders in an otherwise in-

dustrial landscape. Four rivers run through the city – Odra, Ostravice, Opava and Lučina. Meadow forests, meadows, ponds, hills, slag heaps and many parks make Ostrava a very pleasant place to live.

Fertile lowland around Opava, the quiet Moravice river valley and undulating landscape of the Nízký Jeseník Mountains. This is Opavian Silesia. A land centering on the old city of Opava offering an entire series of recreation options. Boaters will love the ziz-zagging Moravice running through the valley from the Kružberk Reservoir to the castle ruin Vikštejn, then on to Hradec nad Moravicí. Cyclists will enjoy

Vikštejn

a dense network of cycling routes in the Hlučín area, and botany enthusiasts must see the Nový Dvůr Forest Garden. Opavian Silesia’s diverse landscape is also beloved by gardeners at their cottages from here and beyond.

Těšín Silesia www.tesinskeslezsko.cz

The Těšín Beskydy lying in south Těšín Silesia have ridges forming the border with Poland. Legendary Čantoryje Mountain with lookout tower is a popular site for tourists from here and from Poland. In Hrčava, you can visit Trojmezí – the Czech, Polish and Slovak border triangle. 12

Čantoryje

Hlučín – Evangelical church

CASTLES AND CHATEAUX

JESENÍK MOUNTAINS (JESENÍKY)

OPAVIAN SILESIA (OPAVSKÉ SLEZSKO)

OSTRAVA AREA (OSTRAVSKO)

BRUNTÁL

OPAVA A

OSTRAVA FULNEK

POODŘÍ – MORAVIAN KRAVAŘE AREA

6 5

(POODŘÍ – MORAVSKÉ KRAVAŘSKO)

FRÝDEK-MÍSTEK

ČESKÝ TĚŠÍN

TĚŠÍN SILESIA (TĚŠÍNSKÉ SLEZSKO)

The days are long gone since nobility built their sublime residences from where they ruled domains and estates. However, many fortresses, castles, chateaux and farmsteads still stand in Silesia and Northern Moravia. Plenty are here for you to visit and admire their masterful architecture and elegant interior furnishing. You’ll see ostentatious residences, city palaces, castle ruins in the Jeseník Mountains and country seats of lesser nobility found in every other village. Head out with us to tour some of these magical landmarks, but remember this is but a brief listing of the region’s riches.

BESKYDY MOUNTAINS (BESKYDY)

CASTLES AND CHATEAUX

Chateau Raduň NPÚ, státní zámek Raduň, Zámecká 67, 747 61 Raduň 49°53‘28.44“ N, 17°56‘40.41“ E 1 map page 14 P around 100 m from the chateau bus from Opava public transport line no. 218, stop Raduň, Jednota and Raduň, škola around 120 m chateau not barrier-free; visitors in wheelchairs can enter the English park and chateau garden with orangery chateau IV Sat, Sun and holidays 10:00–15:00; Easter 10:00–17:00; V–VI Tue–Sun 9:00–16:00, Sat, Sun and holidays 10:00–17:00; VII–VIII Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00; IX Tue–Sun 10:00–16:00, Sat, Sun and holidays 10:00–17:00; X Sat, Sun and holidays 10:00–16:00; XII (Christmas at the chateau) Sat, Sun 10:00–16:00; orangery and decorative gardens V–IX Tue–Fri 10:30–16:00, Sat–Sun and holidays 10:30–17:00 +420 553 796 119/203 radun@ostrava.npu.cz www.zamek-radun.cz

Castle Sovinec

Dining hall

This modest but beautiful rural chateau, once the summer residence of the Blüchers of Wahlstatt, is especially popular because it seems to have come straight out of a fairy tale. The romantic chateau and its towers reflect like a mirror off of one of the ponds lying in the sprawling chateau park. This true gem in historicist style awaits you in the lovely village of Raduň, just a stone’s throw away from Opava. Touring Raduň and its noble interiors, you will learn about the life of rural aristocracy. A precious part of the chateau complex is its orangery and adjacent decorative garden with wide assortment of plant life from here and abroad.

Chateau Raduň

Hradec nad Moravicí A

TIP

map page 14

Of course the region’s most popular chateau is Hradec nad Moravicí. The remarkable seat of the Lichnowský family of Voštice and Werdenberg stands upon a promontory overlooking the river Moravice. Dominating the grounds are the so-called White Chateau, which is open to the public and features preserved original furniture, the Red Chateau serving social and cultural functions, and the white Water Tower standing at the entrance to the region’s largest chateau park (136 ha). The White Chateau offers two tour circuits showing visitors life in the chateau, the former center of social, cultural and political life in Silesia. In 2008, it was chosen as the most fairytalelike chateau in the CR, and rightfully so.

Hrad Sovinec, autopošta 793 51 pošta Břidličná 49°50‘15.1“ N, 17°14‘46.94“ E 2 map page 14 in town, 100 m from castle P bus stop 100 m; train stop 15 km in Rýmařov barrier-free on 1st floor and courtyard IV–VI and IX–X Tue–Sun and holidays 9:00–16:00; VII–VIII Tue–Sun and holidays 9:00–17:00 +420 554 295 113, +420 554 219 863 sovinec@mubr.cz www.mubr.cz

Interior of seventh gate

Castle tower dating back to the 14th century

Monumental late-Gothic castle founded at the start of the 14th century lying in the western edge of a town by the same name. Original castle tours await visitors – five courtyards and the old castle with lookout tower lending a panorama reaching far out into the stunning beauty of the Nízký Jeseník Mountains. This seemingly remote castle actually hosts many outstanding cultural events. Guides dressed in historical costumes will share with you the life of German knights who owned the castle and its troubled history. This often unjustifiably forgotten landmark is one of our most important and largest structures of its kind. Don’t hesitate to set your navigation and head on out to Sovinec.

Chateau Fryštát Masarykovo nám. 1, 733 24 Karviná–Fryštát 49°51‘30“ N, 18° 32‘15“ E 3 map page 14 under OD PRIOR Karviná around P 250 m from the chateau or free under the chateau around 100 m train stop around 1,300 m from the center; bus stop around 300 m from the center barrier-free 1st and 2nd circuit IV–X Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00; 3rd circuit year round Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00 +420 596 318 382, +420 596 387 358 zamek-frystat@karvina.cz www.zamek-frystat.cz, www.karvina.cz

Courtyard of Chateau Fryštát

Staircase from entrance hall

An Empire treasure that you won’t see anywhere else in Silesia. This impressive aristocratic residence lies in Fryštát, a historical quarter of today’s Karviná. The chateau’s history goes back to the Piastovec Dynasty’s rule over the Těšín Princedom. Of course, most of the credit for its fame and appearance belongs to the last owners, the counts Larisch-Mönich. Fryštát offers interesting chateau tours through stately rooms with examples of the life of rich nobility – a family that owned mainly mining enterprises in the Těšín area. The third circuit features exhibits of the National Gallery in Prague. Carriage rides are offered in the summer. Beside the chateau, there is an enormous English park where you can relax for hours. 17

CASTLES AND CHATEAUX

Silesian Ostrava Castle Hradní 1, 710 00 Slezská Ostrava 49°49‘50.19“ N, 18°17‘59.081“ E 4 map page 14 close by, around 50 m P bus no. 82, 28 (stop Hradní náměstí, around 100 m); tram no. 9, 13 (stop Důl Zárubek, around 350 m from the castle) barrier-free III–V Tue–Sun 10:00–19:00; VI–VIII Mon–Sun 9:00–20:00; IX, X Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00; XI Tue–Sun 10:00–16:00; XII Mon–Sun 10:00–6:00 +420 596 111 457, +420 721 262 690 hrad.ovas@cerna-louka.cz www.slezskoostravskyhrad.cz

Entrance gate with tower

Chateau Kunín

Castle celebrations

In Ostrava’s very center near the confluence of the Ostravice and Lučina stands a castle that sheer luck saved from complete devastation. Ostravans stood by idly for decades as it worsened and began caving in until only the torso remained, which then sunk 17 m due to undermining. In 2004, the castle saw general reconstruction and was gradually completed. Silesian Ostrava Castle is now one of the city’s main tourist attractions. It holds hundreds of cultural events over the year attracting thousands of visitors. You can spend the entire afternoon at the castle and never get bored. Concerts, theater presentations or markets will please lovers of fine art and perhaps even fine food.

Správa zámku Kunín, 742 53 Kunín 49°38‘33.34“ N, 17°59‘24.41“ E 6 map page 14 at chateau and 100 m away P bus stop U Kovárny around 100 m;train stop 6 km in Suchdol nad Odrou barrier-free IV and X Sat, Sun and holidays 9:00–16:00; V–IX Tue-Sun 9:00–17:00 +420,556,749,420 ic@kunin.cz http://zamek.kunin.cz

Baroque gem in Moravian Kravaře. Chateau Kunín is duly regarded as one of the most impressive Moravian aristocratic residences. The counts of Harrach had it built by design of famous Austrian architect, Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. The valuable chateau façade is a variation of Mira-

Restored interiors

bell Palace, the Salzburg archbishops’ summer residence. A famous lady of the chateau was Marie Walburg, Countess of Truchsess-Waldburg-Zeil, born Harrach. She founded one of Central Europe’s most modern educational institutions of its day. One student was none other than František Palacký, native of nearby Hodslavice. The chateau underwent major restoration and saw the return of its collections and authentic room furnishings. It breathes the intoxicating atmosphere of a rural family residence.

Castle Hukvaldy Hrad Hukvaldy, 739 46 Hukvaldy 49°37‘11.6“ N, 18°13‘45.911“ E 5 map page 14 in town, around 2 km from the castle P bus stop Hukvaldy hotel, around 2 km from the castle after telephone arrangement physically disabled ID cardholders may get to the castle IV, X Sat–Sun 9:00–16:00; V–VIII Tue–Sun 9:00–18:00; IX Tue–Sun 9:00–17:00 420 558 699 323, +420 736 158 748 isekretar@janackovyhukvaldy.cz www.janackovyhukvaldy.cz

Castle bridge

Fortifications of the 5th gate

One of Moravia’s largest castles towers above a rise over the town by the same name. Hukvaldy was the seat of a huge domain belonging to the Olomouc bishopric (archbishopric as of the 18th century). At the turn of the 20th century, the castle became a destination for romantic excursions by local townsfolk, soon followed by tourists mainly from Ostrava. The castle is also famous for the music festival Janáček Hukvaldy, held each year to honor their great native son. The path up to the castle leads along a large preserve with fallow deer herds. Down in the village, you can visit the family home of Leoš Janáček.

Covered footbridge between chateau and church

Other castles and chateaux This guide is too brief to cover all castles and chateaux in the region. We must mention at least the castle Starý Jičín (www.hradstaryjicin.cz), the chateau in Bruntál, a national cultural monument (www.bruntal-zamek.cz), the Baroque chateau Kravaře (www. kravare.cz) and country residences near Osoblaha such as Linhartovy (www.zameklinhartovy.cz), Slezské Rudoltice (www.slezskerudoltice.cz) or Dívčí Hrad (www.divcihrad.cz).

It’s not an easy hike to mysterious castle ruins near Vrbno pod Pradědem, including Fürstenwalde, Freudenštejn, Rabenštejn and Pustý zámek. The major landmark of Frýdek-Místek is its chateau, the seat of the Beskydy Museum; the chateau in Fulnek dominates the entire region; the chateau in Bartošovice looks like a wedding cake; and a wondrous chateau fortress stands in Stará Ves nad Ondřejnicí. You’ll discover other treasures at www.msregion.cz. 19

ARCHITECTURE JESENÍK MOUNTAINS (JESENÍKY)

OPAVIAN SILESIA 7

(OPAVSKÉ SLEZSKO)

OSTRAVA AREA (OSTRAVSKO)

BRUNTÁL B

OPAVA 11 13

OSTRAVA

A 8

FULNEK

POODŘÍ – MORAVIAN KRAVAŘE AREA

10 12

(POODŘÍ – MORAVSKÉ KRAVAŘSKO)

BESKYDY MOUNTAINS

FRÝDEK-MÍSTEK

ČESKÝ TĚŠÍN

TĚŠÍN SILESIA (TĚŠÍNSKÉ SLEZSKO)

Medieval monuments, cathedrals and churches, folk structures, historicist and modern buildings form a rich mosaic of architectural styles in Northern Moravia and Silesia. This region holds village and urban monument reserves and several unique structures. When traveling the region, keep your eyes open to experience lots of pleasant surprises. In Opavian Silesia, you will notice the Neo-Gothic churches built in fair-faced brick. In Havířov and Poruba, you will see uncommon works of Socialist Realism. Treasures include a Neo-Renaissance cathedral in Ostrava, a Secession villa in Krnov, the Breda department store by Leopold Bauer in Opava or the deconstructivist school in Orlová. Discover the magic of architecture in our region.

(BESKYDY)

ARCHITECTURE

Kosárna in Karlovice 793 23 Karlovice 146 50°6‘18.357“ N, 17°26‘48.089“ E 7 map page 20 in town, around 20 m from the P building, in front of the sweet shop bus stop Karlovice, Slezan; train stop Karlovice not barrier-free IV–X Tue–Sun and holidays 9:00 –12:00 and 12:30–17:00; XI–III by appointment only +420 554 744 077, +420 604 388 203 kosarna@mubr.cz www.mubr.cz

Built in 1600, the building belonged to the princely foundry Horní hamerní hut’. Upon closing of the ironworks in the mid-18th century, a blacksmith named Jan Michal Hartel bought

Wooden building of the former scythe plant

and enlarged the building, producing scythes and other farm implements. Karlovice Kosárna is a uniquely preserved structure exemplifying original Silesian wooden architecture. The brick pig barn and a granary with another barn are original. The Bruntal Museum has managed the complex since 1974. Besides the building, visitors can admire various exhibits mainly dealing with forestry. Kosárna in Karlovice breathes the life of Silesian mountain folk.

Exhibition of rural housing

Kotul’s Log Cabin Hálkova 4, 736 01 Havířov 49°46‘7.703“ N, 18°26‘53.177“ E 8 map page 20 at Kaufland store or stadium – 200m P railway station Havířov, from where you can go by bus to the bus station; bus station Havířov-Podlesí around 200 m not barrier-free V–X Tue–Fri 8:00–12:00 and 12:30–16:30, Sat 9:00–13:00, Sun 13:00–17:00 +420 602 709 731 kotulova_drevenka@muzeumct.cz www.muzeumct.cz 22

Preserved log cabin from 1781. Kotul’s Log Cabin is perfectly preserved testimony to Těšín Silesia’s folk architecture. It stands on Hálkova street right beside the modern built-up area of Havířov. The cabin features original furniture from the

Kotul’s log cabin

Great room

turn of the 20th century. Exhibits include various farm implements or equipment for making butter, etc. People lived in the thatched-roofed cabin until 1975. Its caretaker is the Museum of Těšín Silesia. Even in our country’s youngest city, you can show your children what life was like in the Silesian countryside not so long ago.

Štramberk Městské informační centrum, Zauličí 456, 742 66 Štramberk 49°35‘18.837“ N, 18°7‘15.934“ E 9 map page 20 P&R facility (streets Zauličí and P Horečky) around 800 m and parking lot on K Očnímu street, 1 km train station Štramberk around 1.5 km; bus stop Štramberk, municipal authority around 50 m not barrier-free V–IX Tue–Sun 8:30–12:00 and 12:30–17:00; X–IV Tue–Sat 8:30–12:00 and 12:30–16:00, Sun 10:00–12:00 and 12:30–15:00 +420 558 840 617 mic@stramberk.cz www.stramberk.cz

Štramberk Tube towering over the little town is a remnant of the original castle Strallenberg. The town’s crooked streets with typical Wallachian log cabins, quaint square with Church of St. John of Nepomuk and especially its many local gingerbread makers baking traditional “Štramberk Ears”

The Tube

attract tens of thousands of visitors annually. Don’t miss visiting the National Garden where you will discover the legendary cave Šipka, where the jawbone of a Neanderthal child was discovered in the late-19th century. Viewing Štramberk from here or from the modern lookout tower on the hill Bílá hora, you’ll understand why it is nicknamed Moravia’s nativity scene.

Štramberk and its dominant features

ARCHITECTURE

Příbor Městský úřad Příbor, nám. Sigmunda Freuda 19, 742 58 Příbor 49°38‘24.72“ N, 18° 8‘35.94“ E 10 map page 20 P in front of the entrance to S. Freud Square; on the square (MPR found in city center) bus and train station in the city center partially barrier-free (ex. Sigmund Freud Memorial, S. Freud Square, library) Family home of Sigmund Freud: IV–IX Tue–Sun 9:00–17:00; X–III Tue–Sun 9:00–16:00 +420 556 455 422 mic@pribor-mesto.cz www.pribor-mesto.cz

The birthplace of the world-famous father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud lies on the Lubina River near

Sigmund Freud Square with Renaissance homes

Kopřivnice, wrapped in the stunning scenery of the Beskydy foothills with views of the Štramberk Tube, Hukvaldy and Radhošť. The city’s historical center is an urban monument reserve with admirable Baroque and Renaissance houses, Piarist College and Freud’s family home. The Gothic parish Church of the Birth of Our Lady is one of its architectural gems. When strolling through town, take the educational trail that leads you along all of Příbor’s landmarks.

Vítkovice Town Hall

as Erich Mendelsohn, Wunibald Deininger, Josef Gočár, Felix Neumann and Ernst Korner. They built administrative and bank buildings, and representative residential houses. Moravian Ostrava is a mix of historicist styles, Secession and Functionalism. Though the most impressive building in Ostrava’s Přívoz is the

Neo-Gothic Church of the Immaculate Conception, Secession is the predominant style here. On the contrary, the main feature in Vítkovice are red fair-faced brick buildings giving this industrial quarter its unmistakable character. The grandiloquent architecture of Social Realism is typical for Ostrava-Poruba.

Nový Jičín

Sigmund Freud Square with Renaissance homes

Monument zones in Ostrava Jurečkova 1935/12, 702 00 Moravian Ostrava and Přívoz 49°83‘44.25‘‘ N, 18°28‘78.75“ E map page 20 11 behind the information center from Jurečkova street by House P of Culture, 100 m tram no. 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 18 stop Elektra, within 30 m barrier-free year round Mon–Fri 7:00–19:00, Sat 9:00 –14:00 +420 596 123 913 mic@ostravainfo.cz www.ostravainfo.cz 24

Four urban monument zones lie in the region’s seat. The largest – Moravian Ostrava – is the center of the metropolis. You can gaze out at city architecture mostly from the late19th century and first half of 20th century, built by famous architects such

Poruba – Oblouk archway building

Turistické informační centrum, Masarykovo náměstí 45/29, 741 01 Nový Jičín 49°35‘39.20“ N, 18°0‘39.01“ E 12 map page 20 near Žerotín Chateau, P distance around 200 m bus station 364 m, train station 561 m barrier-free V–IX Mon-Fri 8:00–17:00, Sat–Sun 9:00–16:00; X–IV Mon–Fri 8:00–17:00, Sat–Sun 9:00–15:00 +420 556 711 888, +420 556 768 288 icentrum@novyjicin-town.cz www.icnj.cz

Typical arcades on the square

Masaryk Square

Nový Jičín in the north of Moravia is rightfully proud of its city center, considered one of the best-preserved in the country. It has a squareshaped town square surrounded by townhouses with arcades. The ostentatious Old Post Office features preserved arcades. Don’t miss a visit to the local chateau with its hatmaking exhibit. A hiking route runs along all the city’s pretty corners and old streets. You are sure to fall in love with Nový Jičín and its charming atmosphere. 25

ARCHITECTURE

Liska Villa

This interesting functionalist villa standing in Silesian Ostrava’s Bazaly was built by design of brothers Čestmír and Lubomír Šlapeta. The villa is built into a hillside, and its characteristic feature is the rounded glass upstairs floor, lending the owners unique views of the entire city. It boasts remarkably preserved elements such as its heating system or its interior details like switches and

North façade

outlets. Liska Villa is considered by many to be the greatest work designed by the Šlapeta brothers in Silesia, and today it is a deserved national cultural monument.

49°50‘4.25“ N, 18°29‘22.16“ E map page 20

Perhaps by miracle the Baroque church in Karviná-Doly still stands, having sunk an unbelievable 36 m due to undermining. The leaning church, nicknamed the Czech Pisa, stands alone in a redeveloped area as one of the last reminders of the existence of old Karviná. Summer guided tours are offered.

Remarkable churches of Silesia

Frýdek-Místek

The entire region has several noteworthy sacral monuments, chapels, churches or cathedrals adorning every village and city center. Some are truly stunning and should not be missed. Opava has the Co-cathedral of the Assumption, a massive three-nave Gothic cathedral from the 14th century. Today it is the second residential cathedral of the Ostrava-Opava bishop. Frýdek-Místek features the impressive Baroque Basilica Minor of the Visitation of Our Lady, today an important place of pilgrimage. The basilica minor in Frýdek is referred to as the Silesian Lourdes. Another pearl of Northern Moravian Baroque architecture is the chapel in Lipky by Rýmařov, and it is worth

View of glass upstairs floor

Wooden churches You can admire the country’s greatest number of wooden churches and chapels right here in the MoravianSilesian Region. In the Beskydy and in Těšín Silesia, many unique sanctuaries have been preserved as testimony to the craftiness of our ancestors. The oldest and most important are the wooden churches in Hodslavice, Guty, Kunčice pod Ondřejníkem, Bílá, on Gruň and on Prašivá. One such church also stands in OstravaHrabová. The original church sadly burned down in 2002, and a replica stands in its place. You can find a complete listing of wooden churches at www.msregion.cz. 26

TIP

Church of St. Peter of Alkantara

49°50‘34.86“ N, 18°17‘56.81“ E 13 map page 20

Guty – church of Corpus Christi

TIP

the journey to visit the monumental Church of the Birth of Our Lady in Orlová. The twin-towered church rises high above the old square, rightfully considered the country’s stylistically purest Neo-Gothic monument. One of the oldest structures in Krnov is the 13th-century Church of the Holy Ghost. It houses a famous cycle of medieval frescoes and serves as a concert hall with a remarkable pipe organ.

Opava

Leopold Bauer in Opava B

49°56‘25.01“ N, 17°53‘56.44“ E map page 20

Architect Leopold Bauer, Krnov’s famous native son, made his unmistakable mark on certain buildings in Opava too – the Church of St. Hedwig and the former department store Breda & Weinstein. The modern church built in 1933-37 has a characteristic pyramidal façade with large cross on the top of the tower. The department store is famous for its utterly unique façade in Gothicizing style. The building from 1927-28 is considered the first modern department store in Czechoslovakia.

Ostrava – church of St. Catherine

TECHNICAL MONUMENTS AND ATTRACTIONS

JESENÍK MOUNTAINS (JESENÍKY)

17 17

OPAVIAN SILESIA (OPAVSKÉ SLEZSKO)

OSTRAVA AREA BRUNTÁL

(OSTRAVSKO)

OPAVA

18 A

19 15

OSTRAVA 16 14

FULNEK FRÝDEK-MÍSTEK

POODŘÍ – MORAVIAN KRAVAŘE AREA (POODŘÍ – MORAVSKÉ KRAVAŘSKO)

BESKYDY MOUNTAINS (BESKYDY)

ČESKÝ TĚŠÍN

TĚŠÍN SILESIA (TĚŠÍNSKÉ SLEZSKO)

The rich industrial history of Northern Moravia and Silesia has left behind numerous technical monuments. Factory buildings, mining towers, ironworks, chemical, textile, and machine-building plants, transport structures, mills and water canals all speak of the sophistication of local science and technology. Lime was fired in the furnaces in Vendryně, the Weisshuhn Canal led water to the Žimrovický Mill, embankments protect Moravian Ostrava from flooding and mining cars connect functioning and disused mining shafts from Ostrava to Karviná. Two centuries of industrial development left an indelible mark on the land, and local people are rightfully proud of the skills of their ancestors. Come get to know technical treasures found nowhere else.

TECHNICAL MONUMENTS AND ATTRACTIONS

NKP Lower Area of Vítkovice and Landek Park NKP Důl Hlubina, ul. Ruská, 706 02 Ostrava-Vítkovice 49°49`4.044“ N, 18°16`36.551“ E 14 map page 28 free on location P tram no. 1, 2, 6, 10, 13 (stop Vítkovice vysoké pece) barrier-free year round (more details by phone) +420 725 633 336 nkp@vitkovice.cz www.dolnioblastvitkovice.cz Landek Park, Pod Landekem 64/28, 725 29 Ostrava-Petřkovice 49°51‘59.461“ N, 18°15‘41.181“ E 15 map page 28 free on location P bus no. 34, 52, 56, 66, 67, 70 (stop Hornické muzeum), around 500 m from complex barrier-free year round (more details by phone) +420 596 131 803–4 landekpark@vitkovice.cz www.landekpark.cz

The most important technical monument in the regional metropolis is a vast complex of blast furnaces, coking plants and the Hlubina Mine in Ostrava-Vítkovice. The monumental blast furnaces that put out millions of tons of iron over two long centuries along with

Lower Area of Vítkovice

NKP Michal Mine Čs. armády 413/95, 715 00 Ostrava-Michálkovice 49°50‘32.157“ N, 18°20‘41.706“ E 16 map page 28 on location P trolleybus no. 101 and 104 and bus no. 49 at the final station towards Michálkovice, entrance to Michal Mine is beside the final stop not barrier-free IV, X Sat–Sun; V–IX Tue–Sun and holidays 9:00–16:00, guided tours +420 596 231 160 dulmichal@ostrava.npu.cz www.dul-michal.cz

Landek Park – Anselm Mine

the Hlubina black coal mine are today a popular tourist attraction. A huge gas container is now a multi-functional hall, and the factory hall of the energy center is now the Little Technical World Museum. The nation’s largest mining museum with unique exhibit of mining rescue is found in the Landek Park complex in Ostrava-Petřkovice. Tours take visitors right under Ostrava. You won’t get bored here; on the contrary, you will see that science, research and technology are the most important things that drive people to create.

Mining tower

Electric mining machinery

This uniquely preserved stone and coal mining complex lies in Ostrava’s pretty Ostrava Michálkovice district. Michal Mine is a true example of just how beautiful industrial architecture can be. Thanks to the National Heritage Institute, the mine has been preserved in as authentic a state as possible. Tourists experience the tour route as though the were truly getting ready for a shift in the underground mine.. The chain cloakrooms, geologist’s office, gauges, first-aid office, lamp room, check room, snack bar and many other areas are uniquely preserved in place just as they were left in 1992 when the last miners worked their very last shift here.

Osoblaha railway Infocentrum Bohušov, 793 98 Bohušov 15 50°14´39.916´´ N, 17°42´59.296´´ E 17 map page 28 by the railway station P Třemešná ve Slezsku entrance right in the station Třemešná ve Slezku a rail car with platform is available in summer for persons in wheelchairs ČD – year round; Slezské zemské dráhy – from June to August and every weekend +420 554 642 121, +420 972 759 180 olpas.moravia@seznam.cz www.osoblazsko.com

Open sight-seeing wagon

Riding in a steam train

Osoblaha is said in jest to be a corner of our country forgotten by God and bureaucrats alike. Despite this, it is becoming quite a tourist destination. This is in part thanks to the narrowgauge railway between Třemešna and Osoblaha. The winding track runs through pretty meadows, forests and ponds, and between haystacks in the fertile fields. It also runs through several villages with folk farmsteads and small noble residences. Surprisingly, Osoblaha has a preserved Jewish cemetery. Czech Railways provides regular railway operation using restored retro-rolling stock, and the Silesian Provincial Railway gives nostalgic steam train rides in season...the train also has a bicycle and beer wagon. 31

TECHNICAL MONUMENTS AND ATTRACTIONS

Czechoslovak fortification complex in Hlučín-Darkovičky Areál čs. opevnění Hlučín-Darkovičky, 747 17 Darkovice 49°55‘31.478“ N, 18°13‘15.257“ E 18 map page 28 P in the complex stop U Orla, 250 m from complex partially barrier-free VII–VIII Tue–Fri 9:00–17:00, Sat, Sun and holidays 11:00–17:00; IV–VI, IX, X Thu, Fri 9:00 –15:30, Sat, Sun and holidays 11:00–17:00; XI–III by appointment only +420 595 051 110, +420 734 578 014 kuchar@szmo.cz www.szmo.cz

The fortification complex HlučínDarkovičky was built prior to WWII as a part of the fortification system that was to defend the borders. Five fortified buildings form the complex.

Equipment inside fortified building

Infantry cabins are still furnished with original military technology and equipment providing smooth operation of the defensive system. A historical paradox is the fact that the fort was never used to protect our borders, but rather it was necessary to overcome it during the liberation of our country in 1945. The Darkovičky complex is run by the Silesian Provincial Museum and attracts history and technology buffs from here and abroad.

and Opava liberation campaign. The modern interactive exhibit thoroughly maps not just the entire course of the Ostrava-Opava operation, but also the operation of the Czechoslovak Army during WWII at both fronts. Especially stirring are the Holocaust exhibit and the simulation of the bombardment of Ostrava. You can explore the monument alone, though we do recommend taking the guided tour. This lets you go to the lookout platform on the monument roof, which offers an outstanding view of Ostrava and surroundings. The national monument also includes a symbolic cemetery with the names of all 13,000 war victims.

Period exhibit

TIP

Dětmarovice Power Station 49°54‘7.97“ N, 18°28‘10.75“ E A map page 28 Those wishing to explore the secrets of science and technology can easily arrange an excursion of the Dětmarovice Power Station, the largest one in Moravia and Silesia (tel.: +420 591 102 111).

Lookout Towers The entire region boasts many lookout towers and observation points built long ago and recently. Lookout towers made of stone, brick, iron or wood offer wonderful views of Moravia and

Silesia’s borderland. From Hrčava to the east to Bílý Potok in the west, from Hynčice to the south and to Bartultovice in the north. The best include the Tube in Štramberk, Cvilín Lookout Tower in Krnov, Kanihůra near Bílov, Bílá Hora near Kopřivnice or Hans Kudlich’s Lookout Tower near Úvalno. You can find a complete listing of lookout towers at www.msregion.cz.

Infantry cabin U Orla

Second World War Monument in Hrabyně Památník II. světové války, 747 63 Hrabyně 192 49º52‘56.951“ N, 18º3‘17.379“ E 19 map page 28 at the complex P bus stop Hrabyně, municipal authority around 300 m barrier-free IV–XI, daily 9:00–17:00 +420,553,775,091 pdsv@szmo.cz, horakova@szmo.cz www.szmo.cz 32

This towering monument with permanent WWII exhibit stands on a hill above Hrabyně at the spot of the fiercest battles of the Ostrava

Monument architecture

Cvilín Lookout Tower

Hans Kudlich’s Lookout Tower

Bílov – Kanihůra

TRADITION AND MODERN PRESENCE

JESENÍK MOUNTAINS (JESENÍKY) A

OPAVIAN SILESIA (OPAVSKÉ SLEZSKO)

OSTRAVA AREA

BRUNTÁL

(OSTRAVSKO) 20 OPAVA 23

OSTRAVA FULNEK

POODŘÍ – MORAVIAN KRAVAŘE AREA

(POODŘÍ – MORAVSKÉ KRAVAŘSKO)

BESKYDY MOUNTAINS (BESKYDY)

FRÝDEK-MÍSTEK

ČESKÝ TĚŠÍN

TĚŠÍN SILESIA (TĚŠÍNSKÉ SLEZSKO)

Human memory has its limits, of course depositories and archives make up for our deficit. It is hard to imagine our past without the existence of museums, monuments and galleries. The museum tradition in the Czech lands began right here in Silesia, as our nation’s first museum was established in Opava. Today, you can visit dozens of museums and galleries in the region, and admire not just the way they’ve documented our history, but also works of art from ancient to modern times. Larger and smaller municipalities have their own museum or at least an exhibition hall. Head out on an excursion in search of learning and fun. An adventure awaits you that will remain etched in your memory.

TRADITION AND MODERN PRESENCE the village of Chotebuz, lying between Karviná and Český Těšín. Several decades of research and archaeological work led to the creation of a unique complex, a realistically designed copy of the original fortress of Slavic settlers. Archeopark is ideal for vacations

Silesian Provincial Museum in Opava Komenského 1, 746 01 Opava 49° 56‘ 14.53“ N, 17° 54‘ 29.70“ E 20 map page 34 P no parking, try parking garage on square nám. Osvoboditelů, distance around 300 m 500 m on foot from train station Opava-východ barrier-free year round, Mon–Sun 9:00–19:00 +420 553 622 999 (museum secretariat) szmo@szmo.cz www.szmo.cz

The Silesian Provincial Museum in Opava is the oldest museum in the Czech Republic, founded in 1814. After general reconstruction, its historical exhibition building provides visitors with pleasant facilities, but mainly of-

Petr Bezruč log cabin

Historical exhibition building

fers a brand new exhibit documenting Silesia’s nature, history, its famous figures and society. If you’d like to learn of the history of our smallest country, this is the place. Then you’ll always understand that Silesia is not Northern Moravia. The museum cares for five other complexes, from a forest garden to the Petr Bezruč log cabin and part of the Czechoslovak border fortification line.

Archeopark Chotěbuz-Podobora Archeopark Chotěbuz-Podobora, 735 61 Chotěbuz 49°47‘10.04“ N, 18°35‘22.89“ E 21 map page 34 100 m from the park P train and bus stop Chotěbuz around 1 km not barrier-free V, VI, IX, X Tue–Fri by appointment only; V, VI, IX, X Sat–Sun 9:00– 17:00; VII, VIII Tue-Sun 9:00–17:00 +420 558 761 227, +420 721 193 517 archeopark@muzeumct.cz www.muzeumct.cz

The world’s oldest Slavic settlement, archaeological finds and the life of Silesia’s first inhabitants await you at the site of an old Slavic fortress in 36

with children. You will learn about several types of dwellings used by old Slavs, you can try out how they slept in furs, how they made flour or shot from a bow. Archaeolgical research is still ongoing here; only guided tours are available.

Bridge and entrance gate

Residential building interior

Nový Jičín Museum ul. 28. října 12, 741 11 Nový Jičín 49°35‘34.98“ N, 18°0‘30.96“ E 22 map page 34 around 100 m from the chateau P bus station around 400 m; train station around 500 m from the chateau not barrier-free IV–IX Tue–Fri 8:00–12:00 and 13:00 –17:00, Sat–Sun 9:00–16:00; X–III Tue–Fri 8:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00, Sun 9:00–15:00; X Sat 9:00–15:00 +420 556 701 156 ovmnj@atlas.cz www.muzeum.novy-jicin.cz

Permanent hat exhibit

Žerotín Chateau

Among others, Nový Jičín is famous as a city of hats. The permanent exhibition in the Žerotín Chateau has an exhibit with the expressive title “Leave it on your head”, mapping the history of hat-making. What hats were worn in the time of Biedermeier? Which top hat rather suited President Masaryk? What did František Palacký have on his head and what hats did Max Švabinský treasure? Why is a ball cap for sports and not for social wear? Leave it on if you have one. This original and unique museum will convince you that a hat would look good on you too. You can even try out hats here and have a photo take at the interactive wall, on which you simply change the background to match the hat. 37

TRADITION AND MODERN PRESENCE

Gallery of Graphic Arts in Ostrava Dům umění, Jurečkova 9, 702 00 Ostrava 1 49°50‘2.38“ N, 18°17‘12.29“ E 23 map page 34 P behind the House of Culture MHD – tram no. 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, stop Elektra around 100 m; bus no. 99, stop Dům umění around 100 m; ÚAN: 1 km not barrier-free, stairs at entrance and upper floor Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 +420 596 112 566 (Mon–Fri), +420 596 115 425 (Tue–Sun) info@gvuo.cz www.gvuo.cz

The Ostrava gallery is one of five of the most important collection insti-

House of Culture

Tatra Technical Museum

Sculpture Úsvit

tutions in the Czech Republic. It regularly holds exhibitions in the House of Art, attracting tens of thousands of art lovers from across Europe. Thanks to its dramaturgy, it holds a privileged position amongst Czech galleries. Its collections contain over 20,000 invaluable artifacts, and great works of the world are concentrated in several exhibit halls. Visiting Ostrava’s House of Art is an experience you’ll never forget.

day, Tatra is still one of the elites in its segment. You can’t miss the museum in Kopřivnice; standing before it is

the legendary train Slovenská strela, one of the symbols of this relatively young city.

TIP

Jewish cemetery in Osoblaha A

map page 34

The region’s rarest Jewish monument is undoubtedly the old Jewish cemetery in Osoblaha. The large, originally 14th-century cemetery crouches behind the fences of a gardener colony, but visiting it is unforgettable. Its spiritual dimension attracts thousands of visitors a year.

Museum at the Bruntál Chateau Technical museum Tatra Kopřivnice Technické muzeum Tatra, Záhumenní 367/1, 742 21 Kopřivnice 49°35‘58.161“ N, 18°8‘38.134“ E 24 map page 34 around 50 m from entrance P bus stop Čs. armády around 100 m, bus station around 300 m; train station around 400 m barrier-free year round, V–IX Tue–Sun 9:00– 17:00; X–IV Tue–Sun 9:00–16:00 +420 556 808 421 info@tatramuseum.cz www.tatramuseum.cz

The first motor vehicle in the Czech lands rolled out of the plant in Kopřivnice. It was 1897, and the vehicle Präsident forever changed the 38

way we travel here. The famous manufacturer Tatra supplied the highestquality vehicles for many decades. The world’s first aerodynamic automobile or cargo trucks that handled the route Paris – Dakar in record times. Our nation’s automobile industry tradition started here, and to-

Collection of veterans

+420 554 717 947, +420 554 717 949, +420 602 574 316 info@mubr.cz, muzeumbruntal@seznam.cz, zamek@mubr.cz www.mubr.cz Bruntál Chateau

Zámecké nám. 7, 792 01 Bruntál 49°59‘25.39“ N, 17°27‘52.789“ E 25 map page 34 right at the chateau P bus stop at swimming pool 250 m; train station 500 m barrier-free on the ground floor, into the chateau chapel, the courtyard, two exhibition halls and chateau park year round, V–IX Mon–Sun 9:00–17:00; X–IV Tue–Sun and holidays 9:00–16:00

The Regional Museum is inside the Bruntál Chateau. Besides ethnographic and science exhibits, you can take the chateau circuit. The chateau has retained its original furnishing, and features invaluable Rococo wall paintings. The museum also manages the unique chateau library with 34,000 volumes. Bruntál was probably founded around 1213 and is considered historically to be our nation’s oldest institutionalized city. The German name for the city Freudenthal means “joyful valley”. We believe that you will indeed find plenty of joy here in Bruntál. 39

RECREATION JESENÍK MOUNTAINS (JESENÍKY)

OPAVIAN SILESIA (OPAVSKÉ SLEZSKO)

OSTRAVA AREA BRUNTÁL 26

(OSTRAVSKO)

OPAVA 31

OSTRAVA

FULNEK

POODŘÍ – MORAVIAN KRAVAŘE AREA

FRÝDEK34 -MÍSTEK 28 29

(POODŘÍ – MORAVSKÉ KRAVAŘSKO)

BESKYDY MOUNTAINS

TĚŠÍN

SILESIA ČESKÝ (TĚŠÍNSKÉ TĚŠÍN 30

SLEZSKO)

The Moravian-Silesian Region offers many opportunities for recreation. Winter and summer resorts in the Jeseník and Beskydy Mountains feature an entire series of attractions, including kilometers of top-quality ski slopes, maintained cross-country ski trails, sled riding and mountain hikes. The mountains of Silesia and Northern Moravia are famous for the quality of the local recreation and sports complexes. If you don’t want to head up some hill, no problem. The entire region offers plenty of exceptional sports fields. Would you like to golf, tour by bicycle, swim or maybe try parachuting? No problem! This region is ready for everything.

(BESKYDY)

RECREATION

Jeseník Mountains

Beskydy Seven

www.jeseniky.net

In the Jeseník Mountains, you can look forward to over forty ski complexes of varying size. Popular ones include the Jeseník resorts Karlov pod Pradědem and Dolní Moravice. The highest point in the Czech Republic from where you can ski downhill into a valley is Praděd. You can ski Praděd until late spring on natural snow. Crosscountry ski trails in these mountains are also well maintained. You can also try night skiing or snowboarding. In the summer, the Jeseník Mountains offer great trails for mountain bikes or

In-line skating

Skiing on Pustevny

horseback riding. In-line skaters have a circuit available in Malá Morávka and hikers have dozens of kilometers of marked routes. The adrenaline will start pumping when you visit one of the rope-climbing parks or ride the motorized go-carts in Bruntál.

TIP

map page 40

Are you really a hearty hiker? See how fit you are on an extreme, 87 km long trek along seven Beskydy peaks (in m ASL): Radhošť 1,129 m + Čertův mlýn 1,205 m + Smrk 1,276 m + Lysá hora 1,323 m + Travný 1,203 m + Ropice 1,082 m + Velký Javorový 1,031 m = 8,249 m. Can you climb the Beskydy K2 in 24 hours? You can try the circuit each September.

www.zoo–ostrava.cz Radhošť Rope-climbing park

Slezská Harta 49°53‘30.83“ N, 17°34‘46.57“ E 26 map page 40

The newest reservoir in the Czech Republic was created on the Moravice River in 1997. Looking at the map, you can see why locals call Harta the Silesian Dragon. It offers the ideal conditions for yachting, fishing, swimming and cycling its perimeter. The settlement Nová Pláň offers lodging, horseback rides, maintained beaches, boat rentals and more, and there is a sports center in Leskovec

Cross-country skiing in the Jeseník Mountains

Beskydy Mountains

Yachting

nad Moravicí. After a day’s fun in the water, you can take a hike to Velký Roudný, the largest volcano in the Jeseník Mountains rising above the water.

www.beskydy.com www.beskydy-valassko.cz

Pustevny, Bílá, Javorový, Bukovec, Lysá hora or perhaps Čeladná – this is but a brief selection of tourist resorts in the Beskydy where you simply can’t get bored. Would you enjoy a bobsled track, a rope park built in the crown of Beskydy mountain trees or riding downhill on a scooter from famed Radhošt’? Again, no problem. Summer in the Beskydy is just as rich in sports as winter. Dozens of kilometers of maintained trails, fine downhill slopes and ski schools will not let you down. 42

Mosty u Jablunkova – bobsled track

Region around Slezská Harta

RECREATION

Těrlice Reservoir and Žermanice Dam

Šilheřovice www.tj-mittal.cz/golf/ 31 map page 40

27 map page 40

The oldest golf complex in Czech Silesia is found in the vast chateau park in Šilheřovice near Ostrava on the very border with Poland. Karviná www.golflipiny.cz 32 map page 40

Karviná features a new golf complex found in the Lipiny district. The redeveloped landscape lent to creation of a unique course lending uncommon views of the industrial panorama. Yachting on the Těrlicko Dam

Two reservoirs separated by just three kilometers are found right near the city of Havířov. In the summertime, people from all over Ostrava seek out local camps and recreational cent-

ers. They’ve got maintained beaches, quality restaurants, boat and water ski rentals. They also feature quiet corners sought-after mainly by avid fishermen.

Golf

Kravaře

Hukvaldy

www.golfkravare.cz 33 map page 40

34 map page 40

18-hole golf course lying in the chateau park in Kravaře. Silesia‘s Baroque jewel is a grateful golf tournament venue.

In the autumn of 2011, a natural golf course opened in Hukvaldy, which will have 9 holes upon completion.

www.golfhukvaldy.cz

Sightseeing flights and paragliding

Golf lovers with cherish this region from the first tee. Golf courses are found in the chateau parks, at the foot of mountains and even between mine shafts. In case of bad weather, you can try one of the indoor arenas designed for golf.

Get a bird’s-eye view of the region by visiting airports in Mošnov or in Zábreh near Dolní Benešov, Sightseeing flights can be taken in groups or individually. Ever wonder what iron and smelting works look like from above? Or fly between Beskydy and Jeseník hills? Or check out the meandering Odra from its source to Bohumín?

Čeladná www.prosper–golf.cz

All aboard, we’ll be airborne in minutes! Popular paragliding centers include Javorový vrch near Třinec, Prašivá, Ondřejník-Skalka and Javorník. You can fly solo or in tandem and glide over the meadows and pastures of the Beskydy. The sports field in Krnov offers unforgettable sightseeing flights.

28 map page 40

This village boasts two 18-hole master golf courses lying at the foot of the Beskydy mountain Smrk. Golfers can find everything here for play and rest.

eters of the Ostravice greens make for fantastic recreation. Ropice

Ostravice www.ostravice–golf.cz 29 map page 40

A new master course grew in the village of Ostravice between two of the highest Beskydy peaks. Beautiful nature, tranquility and masterful param44

www.beskydgolf.com 30 map page 40

In the town near Třinec, in a slightly undulating land under the Beskydy is a top-notch 18-hole course. There is also an indoor training center for the winter months.

Javorový vrch – paragliding

RECREATION

Boating Recreational boating is booming in the region. For years, boating clubs have organized rides down the Ostravice and Moravice when discharging the reservoirs Šance and Kružberk. Some river sections are navigable year round with established boat routes. The Opava is navigable in the section Kravaře – Třebovice, the Odra from Košatka to the Polish border, and the Ostravice from Silesian Ostrava Castle to its confluence with the Odra.You can rent canoes or learn the basics with several regional boating clubs, just “Google” them. These clubs and rental shops will point you to the right sections. Just don’t ride the Odra to Świnoujście (Poland) without

your passport. The Moravian-Silesian Region is preparing a boating guidebook describing the rivers Ostravice, Moravice, Opava, Olše and Odra.

Cycle tourism The entire region is literally interwoven with cycle paths. Backbone routes leading through the land are mostly international. The most interesting are the sections of the Krakow – Moravia – Vienna Greenway. If you don’t prefer hilly terrain, head out to the Moravian Gate, or pedal through Poodří. In Těšín Silesia, a cycle route was reopened along the Olše River. The regional seat is also well connected to its surroundings by cycle paths. The region has a dense network of bike service centers, with

maps and rest areas along the way. Almost every municipality offers re-

freshments. Keep in mind that this country does not tolerate the mix of cycling and alcohol.

Geocaching The Moravian-Silesian Region is the promised land for geocaching enthusiasts. “Caches” are planted throughout the region. Just enter the coordinates in your GPS and it’s off to adventure. On the Moravian-Silesian Region’s portal www.msgc.cz, you can find a list of “caches” divided by theme and individual tourist areas. However, this selection is not final. Searching for treasures in these forgotten corners and very open places always brings other rewards – recreation and discovery. Register at www.geocaching.com and get involved in a game enjoyed by people across the globe. 46

SPAS AND RELAXATION JESENÍK MOUNTAINS (JESENÍKY)

OPAVIAN SILESIA (OPAVSKÉ SLEZSKO) 35

OSTRAVA AREA BRUNTÁL

(OSTRAVSKO)

OPAVA A

OSTRAVA 37 FULNEK FRÝDEK-MÍSTEK

POODŘÍ – MORAVIAN KRAVAŘE AREA

ČESKÝ TĚŠÍN

TĚŠÍN SILESIA (TĚŠÍNSKÉ SLEZSKO)

The Moravian-Silesian Region is a true oasis of rest and comfort. It has a long spa tradition as well. The Jeseník Mountains have fresh air, the Karviná area has unique underground water called the prehistoric sea, the Beskydy offers fresh curds from local herders and Wallachia’s meadows are full of herbs. Spas big and small, wellness centers, saunas, massage parlors, solariums and polariums, all with a smiling staff. Enjoy a mud wrap or a beer bath, let yourself be pampered. Silesian and Northern Moravia are sure to restore your health.

(POODŘÍ – MORAVSKÉ KRAVAŘSKO)

BESKYDY MOUNTAINS (BESKYDY)

SPAS AND RELAXATION

Spa Karlova Studánka Státní léčebné lázně, 793 24 Karlova Studánka 6 50°4‘24.587“ N, 17°18‘22.246“ E 35 map page 48 P upper and lower parking lot in town around 300 m upper bus stop (Karlova Studánka, restaurace Hubertus) and lower (Karlova Studánka, parkoviště), both around 300 m from spa center; train stop Vrbno pod Pradědem around 6 km from spa barrier-free only to Summer Spa office: year round Mon–Fri 7:00–15:00 + 420 554 798 111 lazne@k.studanka.cz www.k.studanka.cz

Drinking pavilion

Sanatorium Klimkovice 724 84 Klimkovice-Hýlov 49°48‘28.42“ N, 18°5‘53.70“ E 37 map page 48 50 m from the spa house P bus no. 64 from Ostrava-Svinov (stop “Sanatoria”, 50 m from spa building A) barrier-free year round Mon–Sun 6:00 –22:00 +420 556 422 111 info@sanklim.cz www.sanatoria-klimkovice.cz Spa park

The famous spa town of Karlova Studánka lies under the peak of Praděd. Maria Theresa’s son Maximilian Franz II established the spa in the lovely Jeseník Mountains in 1780. Natural healing sources include mineral water containing natural carbon dioxide rising up 127 m. This water is used to prepare carbon dioxide baths and mud wraps, inhalation and drinking therapy. Patients coming here are generally those suffering respiratory ailments, because Karlova Studánka is considered to have the cleanest air in all of Central Europe.

Darkov Spa Čsl. armády 2954/2, 733 12 Karviná-Hranice 49°52‘00.81“ N, 18°33‘40.43“ E 36 map page 48 right at building P bus no. 511, 512, 517, 519, 520 from the main train station Karviná to the stop Hranice, rehabilitační sanatorium, around 100 m barrier-free Office: year round Mon–Fri 7:00–14:30 +420 596 373 111 info@darkov.cz www.darkov.cz

The iodine-bromine mineral water (brine) rising up here at the lovely Darkov Spa is of tertiary origin. The brine led to the establishment of the 50

A modern spa facility was built on the slopes of Hýlov, part of Silesian Klimkovice. The spa waters are led along an 11-km long pipe from a bore hole in Ostrava-Polanka. Treatment of locomotion disorders, gynecological and

Spa park

Wellness centers

Social House

spa in the 19th century which mainly treats illnesses of the limbs. Darkov Spa in Karviná is sought-after by patients from around the world for its high-quality care and excellent treatment results. The spa’s older part lies in the historical quarter Darkov beside the lovely and sprawling English park of Chateau Fryštát. A modern sanatorium is also found in the Karviná quarter Hranice.

Each sizable city has wellness centers, mostly in municipal spas or water parks. One popular spa awaits you in the Beskydy village of Čeladná. Rarities here include herbal baths and a historical Finnish sauna in a town with the pretty name Komorní Lhotka. The region offers plenty of places with salt caves, massages, baths and procedures serving to relax a tired body.

Sculpture decoration in complex

neurological illnesses, relatively clean air, modern environment and excellent service...these are the main attributes of the sanatorium caring for visitors from here and abroad. Wide-ranging treatment and wellness procedures, a complex surrounded in greenery and close to the region’s metropolis Ostrava make Klimkovice Sanatorium the place for relaxing and taking time out.

Beer bath A

TIP

map page 48

You can experience a unique beer bath in Chateau Zábřeh in Ostrava’s Zábřeh District. Dip yourself into the enormous

wooden keg in the medieval cellar and let the oil bath with beer extracts work its magic. A relaxing massage and a glass of chilled beer are a great finish to this procedure. A similar experience awaits you in Štramberk, where a beer spa is found in a cellar by the town walls and farther along in Bahenec.

TRAVELING THE REGION JESENÍK MOUNTAINS (JESENÍKY)

OPAVIAN SILESIA (OPAVSKÉ SLEZSKO)

OSTRAVA AREA BRUNTÁL

(OSTRAVSKO)

OPAVA

OSTRAVA FULNEK FRÝDEK-MÍSTEK

POODŘÍ – MORAVIAN KRAVAŘE AREA (POODŘÍ – MORAVSKÉ KRAVAŘSKO)

BESKYDY MOUNTAINS

ČESKÝ TĚŠÍN

TĚŠÍN SILESIA (TĚŠÍNSKÉ SLEZSKO)

The Moravian-Silesian Region and its six tourist areas offer many options for excursions. Just look at the map and choose. By car, bicycle, or on foot? Whatever you like. A calm, undulating land of chateaux and ponds around the meandering Odra. A hike up Lysá hora – the magical and mysterious queen of the Beskydy. A thrilling view when trekking through the Opava valley up to majestic Praděd. A dalliance on the Czech-Polish border with the taste of bigos and Gorol folklore. Whenever or whatever, this region seems made to be explored. Head out with us in search of the region’s truly fine places. While we present here six ideas for excursions, this guide offers much more – just choose.

(BESKYDY)

TRAVELING THE REGION

Bílá Opava river valley up to Praděd

Praděd – TV transmission tower

This takes you along an exhilarating hiking route to see the rugged, beautiful nature of the Jeseník Mountains. It leads from Karlova Studánka through the romantic Bílá Opava river valley to the highest Moravian mountain, Praděd. The trip starts in Karlova Studánka, proud of its over 200 year spa tradition. Thanks to its geographical position in the middle of the Jeseník Mountains, the spa became famous for its unique climate. Besides the climate suited to treating patients with respiratory illnesses, another healing source are its mineral springs with

natural carbon dioxide taken from a depth of 127 meters. Locomotion organ diseases are also treated here. You can enjoy a relaxing walk between historical spa buildings or tour the outdoor rock exhibit, with nearly 340 specimens documenting the evolution of the Jeseník Mountains. From the waterfall at Karlova Studánka’s upper parking lot, take the yellow and blue route to Bílá Opava’s river valley – the prettiest white water in these mountains. A primeval spruce forest spreads all around, rich in moss, lichen, herbs and trees. The sometimes rather difficult route leads along footbridges, bridges and stairs. Your reward is the view of the lovely waterfalls, numerous cascades and rapids, rock formations and romantic corners of this primeval spruce forest.

Spectacular view of the lovely Jeseník Mountains

ally reach Ovčárna. Here you’ll eventually come to an asphalt road and ascend to the top of Praděd along the red route. For diversity’s sake, there are stops on the trail “With the Elf Around Praděd”. Its information panels share old Jeseník mountain tales, interesting local nature facts, images and tasks for children.

Praděd has an elevation of 1,492 m ASL. In 1914, a high stone tower was built at the top, and here in 1983, a 162 m high TV transmission tower was built with restaurant, hotel and lookout terrace offering amazing views of the entire Jeseník Mountains. In clear weather, the High Tatras or the Malá and Velká Fatra may be visible.

Bílá Opava

The largest Bílá Opava waterfall is nearly 8 m high. After a demanding climb staying along the yellow route, you’ll eventu-

Karlova Studánka Spa

TRAVELING THE REGION

In the footsteps of Petr Bezruč on Lysá hora Mountain

Heading up Lysá hora

Lysá hora is a symbol of the MoravianSilesian Beskydy Mountains and a traditional hiking destination. Poet Petr Bezruč himself climbed the mountain. Head out in his footsteps – the mountain awaits you in all four seasons. Head up Lysá hora along the yellow hiking route from the village of Malenovice from the stop Parkoviště, where you’ll arrive by bus from Frýdlant nad Ostravicí. After a kilometer’s walk, you’ll pass one of the loveliest natural monuments in the Beskydy – Satina waterfalls. Continue to the Satina crossroads (U korýtka) and go right. The path here begins to get rocky. After walking 2.5 km you can refresh yourselves in the

Satina Waterfalls

route to the town of Ostravice, a favorite amongst tourists. The Lysá hora nature trail lines the way from Malenovice to Lysá hora and back to Ostravice. Along fifteen stops and two information panels at the top, you´ll learn plenty about the bandit Ondráš, the lord of Lysá hora, local flora and fauna, Beskydy forests, the danger of the mountains and their victims, the Beskydy´s largest waterfall and caves. The nature trail measures 16.5 km and if you want to see all the stops, plan a trip from one town to another by crossing the top. The Beskydy Information Center is again offering guided, commented ascents of Lysá hora entitled The best of Lysá hora ...or What You Haven’t Seen Yet (www.beskydy.com).

Lysá hora – TV transmitter

oldest Beskydy pub. Continue up the hill from here along the yellow hiking route to the Lukšinec crossroads.

Cross remembering victims of Lysá hora

Before it hidden in the forest is a unique cave system Ondrášovy díry, which however is not open to the public. At Lukšinec, take the red hiking route, and it´s 3 km from here to the top. Around 0.5 km under the peak is a wooden cross, erected to honor all victims of Lysá hora. It´s just five minutes to the very top of Lysá hora and you’ll see its dominant feature close up – a TV transmitter. Here also stand a hydrometeorological station and the Mountain Rescue Service, and buffets offer refreshments. The lookout point offers you amazing far-off panoramas. In clear weather, you can see the Jeseník, Malá and Velká Fatra Mountains or even the High Tatras. After a rest, go back along the red hiking route to the crossroads to Lukšinec. You can return to Malenovice or continue along the red 57

TRAVELING THE REGION

Ostrava Area – industrial heritage path

Lower Area of Vítkovice

Ostrava is mainly famous as an important industrial center. Thanks to this, you can still admire unique memorials unseen elsewhere in the country. Your industrial heritage tour starts in the complex of the national cultural monument Lower Area of Vítkovice. You can get here the fastest by tram to the stop Vítkovice vysoké pece. During the tour, you can head up 64 m to the very top of the blast furnace and take in a spectacular view. From Vítkovice, take the tram through the center to the Přívoz District at the stop Sad Boženy Němcové and transfer to a bus that then takes you to the mining museum. Landek

Park in Ostrava-Petřkovice is the nation’s largest mining museum. Here you can descend into the earth and try your hand at mining. The feeling is completely authentic thanks to interactive and audiovisual elements underground. The museum also runs the world’s largest exhibit on mining rescue. When you are deep inside legendary Landek and feel the strong underground wind currents, finding yourself in total darkness as your kids squeeze you tighter and tighter, just know that Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners, is watching over you. The only ones who could be scared here are the gnomes, which are just getting used to tourists. Most stay hidden but once in a while they appear. The local guides have plenty to say on this matter. If time permits, return from

New City Hall

tower. Ostrava stands before you – the industrial giant of the country’s largest smelting factory to the south, chimneys and roofs of steel mills and machine parks of Vítkovice to the southwest. The horizon is broken up by chimneys and gas tanks, and the

occasional flame rises over Mariánské Hory. Industrial Ostrava fascinates yet strikes awe. In the center, enjoy visiting the House of Art or the Ostrava Museum. Below the tower, information center personnel will provide you with details and maps.

Mining Museum, touring the tunnel

the mining museum to the center and see Ostrava from above. At the stop Sad Boženy Němcové, transfer to a trolleybus, and take Sokolská street to the New City Hall with lookout

Landek National Natural Monument

TRAVELING THE REGION the route are farmed, but the ones on the right are left to nature. The left side is in Poland. In Hrčava, notice the little church consecrated to Cyril and Methodius, and especially the local Trojmezí. This is the meeting point of the Czech, Slovak and Polish borders. Hrčava, Čierne and Jaworzinka are three small villages, whose citizens can see into each other’s kitchens and “give each other a holler”. Though living in three different countries, they are very good neighbors, as seen in local pubs or fairs. The most popular fair is in Hrčava, held on Cyril and Methodius’ feast day. From Hrčava, you can easily take a bus down to your car or a train.

Těšín Silesia

Jablunkov

This excursion starts at the railway station Návsí near Jablunkov – come by train or vehicle. Head on foot from the train station towards Jablunkov along Nádražní street. After around 1.5 km, you’ll reach the bus station on the right beside the Olše riverbank. From the bus station, take the blue hiking route towards Písečná and Bahenec. An easy hike leads you through the hamlet Písečná and into forested mountains. You slowly ascend through the thick woods to the mountain settlement Bahenec. Have some refreshments here and then continue. Take the red hiking route to Ostrá hora (751 m ASL), from where you will gradually descend into the valley around Bystrý (484 m ASL). The peaceful walk is ideal for entire families. You can pick mushrooms along the way and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. After 2.5 km, you will again reach the river Olše, which rushes here like a fast mountain stream. Cross the bridge and have a look around you. You have just reached the easternmost

Hrčava – Church of St. Cyril and Methodius

Gorol elders

municipality in the Czech Republic. Welcome to Bukovec. The mountain village’s hospitality is legendary. Visit during the Plackový festival or the traditional pig-slaughter, Bukovecke kvicani. Enjoy the folklore, good food and drink and natural beauty, and if you don’t understand the locals, enjoy

Hrčava – Trojmezí

a shot of something strong together. Science has found that the Gorol dialect becomes clearer after tasting the local spirits. From Bukovec, take the red route to Komorovský grúň to the crossroads, then take the yellow path to the crossroads Na Dílku. These two crossroads are just a half kilometer from each other, but the path between offers panoramic views of the wide open land. On Dílek you can choose; either stay on the green route to the nature trail leading to the highest point in the Czech Republic, or continue along the yellow route to Hrčava. The 2 km walk to Hrčava copies the Polish border the whole way. Note that all fields on the left side of 61

TRAVELING THE REGION

Opavian Silesia

Kravaře – chateau

When in Opavian Silesia, it’s best to start with a tour of the lovely chateau in Hradec nad Moravicí. From the chateau, head down to town, and at the crossroads with the main road, go straight towards Bohučovice. At the end of the village, turn left and keep going 5 km to Raduň, where another noble seat and huge park await you. In Raduň, head towards Komárov (Opava district) until you reach class 1 road no. 11. Go right heading towards Ostrava. At the edge of Hrabyně, you will see on the right the monumental Second World War Monument, a tour of which takes at least an hour. After touring, continue to town and go left at the first crossroads to Háj ve Slezsku, where you can visit the Silesian Resistance Memorial on the hill Ostrá hůrka. From here, you’ll enjoy a lovely view of the surroundings. In Háj, head left towards Opava. At the end of town, go right towards Dolní Benešov, and taking the road around the pond Nezmar, you’ll arrive at Dolní Benešov,

Hradec nad Moravicí – chateau

a quaint little town with many nice taverns and a chateau. On the main road (no. 56), go left towards Opava and after 700 m, an impressive Neo-

Hrabyně – Second World War Monument

Gothic chapel built out of red fairfaced brick stands on the right. Turn right here, continuing to the village of Bolatice with its small Open-air Museum of Folk Traditions and Crafts. Locals created it themselves. It features several exhibits of folk architecture in this part of Silesia. Then continue on Opava street straight towards Kravaře. A lovely town awaits you with typical Silesian built-up area and lovely Baroque chateau. From Kravaře, you can continue to the very heart of the region – to old Opava, the capital of Czech Silesia. Here you’ll find museums, theaters, music clubs, a cinema as well as several sports facilities. We recommend traveling through Opavian Silesia by car, but the routes can be adjusted for hiking or cycling. Just make sure you take a good map along. 63

TRAVELING THE REGION

By bicycle around chateaux and ponds

Bartošovice – nature trail

This trip starts in Kunín at the Baroque chateau (see chapter Castles and Chateau – Kunín). Head towards Fulnek, and after about 500 m, turn towards Bartošovice. After 3 km, between the fields head to Hukovice, and after another 3 km to the village of Bartošovice. Here you will find a chateau with arcaded courtyard. Check out its exhibit on the Moravian Kravaře region, divided into four thematic sections. You can accommodate yourselves right at the chateau and draw inspiration for outings in the information center. Try locking up your bike for a while and walking the 5 km Chateau Nature Trail. Its 12 stops lead you by wetlands,

ponds and through the woods to the crossroads by a preserved 15th century water mill. The easy route is well-suited to families with children and senior citizens. Another stop is the wild animal rescue station, a worthy visit indeed, especially for kids. Continuing south by bicycle, you arrive after nearly 3 km to the neighboring village of Nová Horka (Studénka district). After passing the chateau (closed to the public), you will encounter just behind it at the old mill another nature trail entitled Kotvice, running through the nature reserve by the same name. It leads past pretty nature around the Odra and lowland ponds Kotvice and Nový. Here you will see others from the Odra pond system, whose construction began in the

weir separating the ponds Bezruč and Křivý on to Jistebník. Heading left, you arrive at the town of Studénka, where at the local chateau, you can visit the unique wagon museum. Wherever you go, you’ll love the Poodří region at first glance. It is especially pretty around the ponds in spring and autumn. Tuck your map away and start pedaling.

Studénka – chateau

Odra fishponds

14th century. At the Odra footbridge, you can link to the cycling route and decide which way next. Going right, you reach the village of Albrechtičky, and through Petřvaldík to beautiful Košatka, you can ride along the

Kunín – chateau

TRAVELING THE REGION TIP

Slezská Harta Reservoir

Weekend at Harta A

map page 52

Slezská Harta (1) on the Moravice River is the youngest Czech reservoir. Its many inlets fill the Nízký Jeseník mountain valley. This dragon-shaped reservoir offers crystal clear water for swimming and strong wind for sailing. Spend a weekend...Slezská Harta and the Nízký Jeseník Mountains will let you forget the stress of the city. At the reservoir, you can find lodging in the village Nová Pláň (2) and Roudno (3) on the south bank or in Leskovec nad Moravicí (4) on the other side. Available accommodations include guest houses, cottages, cabins and private homes. Around Harta, there are dozens of marked cycle routes; you can take a trip to nearby Kružberk (5) or climb to the top

Yachting

of the extinct volcano Velký Roudný (6), where a chapel and wooden lookout tower stand. The view from Roudný is fantastic – you can see the entire Jeseník

Velký Roudný – lookout tower Mountains with Praděd (7), and Slezská Harta’s inlets zigzag below you. Horseback riding, fishing, tennis, squash and especially yachting are but a basic listing of activities you can enjoy on Harta. There’s nothing better than grilling your fresh-caught fish right on the beach. If you like castles and chateaux, you must head through Břidličná (8) to Sovinec (9) (see Castles and Chateaux), or the monumental chateau in nearby Bruntál (10). Near Harta, you’ll discover the last remains of castle ruins or the lost settlement of Karlovec (11), from which only a Baroque chateau remains; you can get here easily from Nová Pláň. You can enjoy interesting natural scenery at Lávový proud near Mezina (12). The natural monument with rock “organ” is over a hectare in size and less than 1 km from the spot where the stream Černý potok flows into the reservoir. Slezská Harta was filled after the devastating floods in 1997, and has gradually become a favorite recreation area.

CALENDAR OF BEST EVENTS

JESENÍK MOUNTAINS (JESENÍKY)

OPAVIAN SILESIA (OPAVSKÉ SLEZSKO)

OSTRAVA AREA BRUNTÁL

(OSTRAVSKO) B 41 A 38 B 39

OSTRAVA FULNEK 42

POODŘÍ – MORAVIAN KRAVAŘE AREA

40 FRÝDEK-

-MÍSTEK

(POODŘÍ – MORAVSKÉ KRAVAŘSKO)

ČESKÝ TĚŠÍN B

TĚŠÍN SILESIA (TĚŠÍNSKÉ SLEZSKO)

Ostrava, Opava, Těšín, Nový Jičín and Krnov are the most important cultural centers in the region. But you can experience top-rate cultural or sports events in other places too. Theaters, concerts, film clubs, dance competitions, sporting events and races are fun for thousands across the region. Something is always going on: outstanding opera, captivating ballet, music festivals and dance parties, matches in professional handball, hockey and many others sports. Today and in nearly every city and town in the region. Presenting the region’s biggest events, have a ball!

BESKYDY MOUNTAINS (BESKYDY)

CALENDAR OF BEST EVENTS

Golden Spike Ostrava (May) www.zlatatretra.cz 38 map page 68

Fire-fighting technology exhibit

visitors explore museums till late at night and can always look forward to a bountiful program. Take your children to the museum; some exhibits The prestigious track and field competition Golden Spike is a part of the world championship and the top athletic championship in the Czech Republic. The best in the world come to Vítkovice Stadium all striving to break

TIP

world records right before the eyes of the cheering croud. During Golden Spike, Ostrava becomes a focal point of world sports media outlets. Come support our local athletes and have fun at this world-class event.

Stodolní street A

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A street that never sleeps. This is Stodolní street in central Ostrava, attracting thousands of fun seekers each weekend. Sixty clubs, coffee shops, pubs, bars, restaurants and several hotels make it an attractive place to meet up with friends. Partying on Stodolní street is legendary, so enjoy it any way you like. The good news is that a train station is at the end of the street, with trains coming from and going to Prague, Pardubice, Olomouc and Žilina.

might start to move after midnight, or you may see a white lady or fall asleep reading fairy tales in the gallery full of classics.

Colours of Ostrava (July) 39

www.colours.cz map page 68

The largest urban multi-genre festival in the Czech Republic attracts tens of thousands to Ostrava each year for both great music and fantastic theater. For years, the festival has taken

place on both banks of the river Ostravice. The Black Meadow Exhibition Grounds and Silesian Ostrava Castle were fantastic settings for this festival, considered the pinnacle of the Czech festival season. It takes place in 2012 in the unique Lower Area of Vítkovice complex.

Festival of Museum Nights (May) www.cz-museums.cz

The now traditional museum night takes place in Ostrava and elsewhere, where annually around thirty museums, galleries, monuments and cultural centers take part, also in Opava, Těšín and other places. Ostrava Museum Night in the regional seat and Silesian Museum Night in other regional cities offer tours of places not normally open to visitors. Curious 70

Landek Park with mining exhibit

CALENDAR OF BEST EVENTS NATO Days (September)

Janáček Hukvaldy (July)

www.dny-nato.cz

www.janackovyhukvaldy.cz

42 map page 68

40 map page 68

The largest review of NATO forces in central Europe takes place each year at Ostrava’s airport. Up to a quarter million visitors from here and abroad witness demonstrations of fighting techniques and aerial acrobatics. The major event is broadcast live across

Hukvaldy’s annual international music festival honors composer Leoš Janáček. This world-famous classical music composer was born right here in Hukvaldy. The classical music festival in the old castle and adjacent

the globe. If you love aircraft and military technology, don’t hesitate to come. This weekend in Mošnov is great for the whole family. To get to NATO Days, we recommend taking public transportation, since traffic jams at this event are the norm.

preserve is one of the nation’s best, as seen in the world-renowned musicians coming to play here. Janáček Hukvaldy will amaze you and we believe you’ll have an unforgettable musical experience. B-52 bomber

Bezruč Opava (September) www.opava-city.cz/bezrucovaopava

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Silesian Theatre

Silesian Theatre interior

Do you love the theater? B

One of the country’s oldest multigenre festivals brings unforgettable moments each year – live perfor-

mances and concerts, theater, exhibitions, parades, etc. Opava comes alive with art, city celebrations and pure joy from the festival lasting a whole month nonstop. Its rich program ensures that everybody can find something to enjoy. This September festival of museums, galleries, clubs, concert halls and theater attracts visitors from across the country to Opava. Take in Opava, you’re sure to enjoy it. It vies for attention with Ostrava and Olomouc.

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The Moravian-Silesian Region boasts highly sophisticated theaters. You can enjoy live professional performances in Opava, Těšín and Ostrava. Opera, operetta, musical, dramatic and puppet – the offer of genres is rich indeed and ready to please all. Reserve your tickets today. Important regional theaters include: The Moravian-Silesian National Theatre in Ostrava – two stages: Jiří Myron Theatre and the Antonín Dvořák Theatre – groups include opera, drama, operetta-musical, ballet (www.ndm.cz) Silesian Theatre in Opava – groups include drama, ballet, opera (www.divadlo-opava.cz) Těšín Theatre in Český Těšín – Czech and Polish performances, Lalek Theatre (www.tdivadlo.cz) Chamber Theater Aréna in Ostrava – drama (www.divadloarena.cz) Petr Bezruč Theater in Ostrava – drama (www.bezruci.cz) Puppet Theater in Ostrava (www.dlo-ostrava.cz) Amateur theater thrives in almost every city. Popular ensembles include a theater improvisation league and the White Theatre Ostrava. One popular group in Opava is Divadlo vysokozdvižného soumara, Karviná has theater KVAS, and there are several other noteworthy groups across the region.

BON APPÉTIT JESENÍK MOUNTAINS (JESENÍKY)

OPAVIAN SILESIA (OPAVSKÉ SLEZSKO)

OSTRAVA AREA BRUNTÁL

(OSTRAVSKO)

OPAVA

OSTRAVA FULNEK

POODŘÍ – MORAVIAN KRAVAŘE AREA

FRÝDEK-MÍSTEK

(POODŘÍ – MORAVSKÉ KRAVAŘSKO)

BESKYDY MOUNTAINS

ČESKÝ TĚŠÍN

TĚŠÍN SILESIA (TĚŠÍNSKÉ SLEZSKO)

The Moravian-Silesian Region offers rich and varied gastronomy. Local specialties cannot be found elsewhere in the country. The local cuisine traditionally has much in common with Bohemian or Austrian food, but Polish and Slovak customs influence it as well. Wallachia serves up cabbage soup and pastries called frgály, around Těšín locals enjoy bigos or krušník, and the Poodří area cooks goose with pear and Odra carp. You are sure to enjoy the food here and washing it down with local beer or a shot of something more robust. For those who don’t drink alcohol, you happen to be in the region that is home to the most popular Czech soda. We hope you come to love the food in the Moravian-Silesian Region!

(BESKYDY)

BON APPÉTIT TIP

Silesian bigos To prepare this local gastronomical treasure, you will need the following ingredients: pork shoulder, pork belly, sauerkraut and head of cabbage, mushrooms, plums, onions, and a white wine finish. First let chunks of the pork belly fry, add onion and larger pieces of the pork shoulder. Add salt and pepper and a little water. Cook until the meat is soft, then add sauerkraut and bay leaf. Keep in mind that bigos is

Odra carp

To prepare this spendid meal, you will need a good-sized carp fresh from the Odra River, oil, butter, leek, fresh mushrooms, white ground pepper, salt and flour. These are the 76

Pooderské spirit tasting A

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Each year, samples of spirits winning preliminary rounds come to the garden of Bartošovice Chateau to amaze the regional round tasters with their flavors, all in an effort to be chosen the best spirit in Poodří. What are the competitive categories? Well, pear, plumb and apple brandy, of course. Come to taste them for yourself in Bartošovice each May, and enjoy the program also suited to families with children. You can explore an animal rescue station, visit the chateau or enjoy boat rides on the pond.

not soup, so most water must evaporate. Towards the end of the cooking time, add the cabbage, mushrooms and a few dried plums, mix well and keep cooking. When adding these final ingredients, we also recommend adding one deciliter of wine. Serve Bigos in a bowl or pot accompanied by nice fresh bread. This recipe is centuries old and each Silesian mother or grandmother cooks it differently with slightly varying ingredients. There may be hundreds of types of bigos, but it always warms and fills the belly.

ingredients for a fantastic recipe by Jiří Pospíšil, head chef and author of the magazine Fish Specialties of the Poodří. Cut the carp into individual portions after washing and drying (4 portions, 800 g), slit the skin vertically, salt and pepper the fish, dip in flour and lightly fry in the oil and butter together. Add sliced leek and sliced mushrooms. Cover and cook on medium, adding salt and ground pepper to taste. Serve with roasted potatoes or potato croquets. You can serve it with fresh bread from the local bakery

in Bartošovice, bearing the Moravské Kravařsko® trademark just like Odra carp. Other traditional North Moravian and Silesian recipes await you when you log on to the region’s Website www.msregion.cz, where you can learn plenty about the culinary skills of the local people.

Klobásníky The best roulade has meat in it! A miner’s wife couldn’t even imagine cooking something simple for her husband. You will start by prepar-

ing classic rising dough, so you need finely ground flour, yeast, salt, oil and milk. Roll out the dough after rising as with a classic roulade, but instead of using apples, add small sausages (kiel-

basas) and smoked meat; the butcher from Sachsenberg in Těšín will be happy to tell you which ones are best. Simply wrap the kielbasas and smoked meat chunks in the dough; you can add sauerkraut or fresh leaf spinach. Don’t forget salt, caraway seed and garlic. Lightly brush the roulade with egg yolk and bake. Let the finished klobásník cool and cut it into individual portions. This miner’s “strudel” is destined to go with cold beer. 77

BON APPÉTIT

Štramberk ears Tatar forces camped in 1241 under the Štramberk hill Kotouno. The Tatars spent much time in the region pillaging all they found. The saddened Štramberkers fervently prayed to God to make the pagan forces go away. Then thunder clapped one night. A strong storm with heavy rains came, filling the streams. Water spilled out over the banks and carried the Tatars and their evil far away. At their camp site, people found bags filled with salted human ears that the Tatars had cut off of Christians during their tirades, planning to send them as trophies back to their Khan as proof of having conquered the land. Štramberkers have been baking their famous gingerbread ears ever since to remember those days.

The traditional cone-shaped gingerbread treat has made the city famous amongst gourmets. People inherit unique “ear” recipes from generation to generation. The ingredients used

Where beer is brewed... The region’s brewing tradition goes back as far as anywhere in Central Europe. Besides major breweries in Ostrava and Silesia’s Nošovice, you can head out on a pilgrimage to small private breweries, which craft golden brews only for their nearby surroundings or only for their own restaurant. Calamus, nettle, lemon, holiday or poppy seed beer, but especially delicious beer of the local brewers, is sure

are always the same, though bakers bake alone and tightly guard their procedure. There’s no sense in trying to make them at home because the best will always be found in pretty little Štramberk’s bakeries. Despite this, we can divulge that they must contain flour, egg, star anise, honey, clove, cinnamon, sugar and maybe cognac, lemon peel and aniseed. Štramberk ears are a unique treat that can only be baked here. They are the first food from the Czech Republic to have gained the European Union’s GI designation. While we recommend having it with whipped cream and hot pear puree or raspberries, do be careful your eyes don’t completely bug out.

to please lovers of our national drink. You can find small family or restaurant breweries in Ostrava, Štramberk, Bohumín, Leskovec, Třinec, Frýdek, Horní Lomná, Rohov, Kozlovice, Rýmařov, Vojkovice, Hukvaldy, Krmelín and elsewhere. Is your partner able to type all these place names into the navigation? No? Never mind, ask a passerby or staff in the information centers, where you’re sure to hear their best opinion. No Baedeker can compete with true beer lovers.

How Moravia-Silesia Tastes? You can find out more about regional dishes at www.msregion.cz, where there is a gastronomy directory with traditional local recipes. The project How Moravia-Silesia Tastes is a huge culinary contest, which inspires and helps develop the offer of regional products and local cuisine in hotels and restaurants, but also for instance at food festivals and other events. Professional chefs from the best restaurants in the Czech Republic present their recipes, as do homemakers or groups of fisherman who know the guaranteed best way to prepare fish cakes. The contest also features a search for the best regional recipe, the best food product in general, the best restaurant and the best beer of the Moravian-Silesian Region. Try the

recipes of local cuisine with us to find out for yourself how Moravia-Silesia tastes.

MORAVIAN-SILESIAN REGION TRAVEL GUIDE

1st publishing 2012 text: Vladimír Šmehlík proofreading: Hana Pelešková photography: © freytag & berndt, © Petr Šimčík, The Moravian-Silesian Region, Horydoly (www.horydoly.cz), Profimedia, Pavel Karmelita, CzechTourism, isifa, Chateau Zábřeh – Beer bath Pikard, Mecidlo (CC BY 3.0), Alberto Racatumba (CC BY 2.0), Photography Archive of the Silesian Provincial Museum (CC BY-SA 3.0), Archive of the Poodří region translation: Scott E. Andrews graphics and layout: freytag & berndt Praha printing: Graspo CZ, a. s. © freytag & berndt Praha, 2012 ISBN: 978-80-87503-12-6

HISTORY AND POPULAR FIGURES

NATURE

CASTLES AND CHATEAUX

ARCHITECTURE

TECHNICAL MONUMENTS AND ATTRACTIONS

TRADITIONS AND MODERN PRESENCE

RECREATION

SPAS AND RELAXATION

TRAVELING THE REGION

CALENDAR OF BEST EVENTS

BON APPÉTIT