Things to see and do North Moravia

Opened since 1956, it now houses 300 species of animals worldwide and participates in a series of endangered species protection programs.

The "upper square" is the center of the city, the square where all the nice pedestrian streets inevitably end. It is also the oldest square in the city, as the dates of construction of the surrounding buildings testify. It is the starting and ending point of all your walks in the city and is surrounded by beautiful mansions, including the richly decorated Edelmann Palace and the Petras and Salm Palaces, all of which bear witness to Olomouc's Baroque architectural élan. As in the Lower Square, monumental fountains dot three sides: Caesar's Fountain (1724, by Schuberger) is the most monumental in the square, with the arms of Moravia and Lower Austria, Caesar, the gods of the Danube and the Moravian River, and a dog symbolizing Olomouc's fidelity to the emperor; Hercules Fountain (1688, by M. Mandík) is the oldest, with the checkered eagle, the symbol of Olomouc, and the Arion Fountain (2002, by I. Theimer) is the most recent. It represents Arion, the Greek singer thrown into the water by thieves and saved by a dolphin. But the highlight of the square is of course the Holy Trinity Column, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so imposing that it houses a small chapel in its base. The Place Haute is a great place for festive gatherings, especially at the end of the year when dozens of Christmas market stalls invade the smallest free space.

The silhouette of St. Wenceslas Cathedral, with its three spires, one of which is the tallest in Moravia at 100.65 meters, is visible from every corner of the city and is the epitome of the city. Started in the early 12th century by the Olomouc prince Svatopluk, the impressive church was consecrated in 1131 but completed only ten years later. Unfortunately, it was largely destroyed by fire in 1265. While the general layout still follows the original medieval plan, much of what can be seen today, including the imposing pillars supporting the three naves, is due to the Gothic reconstruction of the 13th and 14th centuries. Note the impressive size of the choir and the richness of its Baroque decoration. It is built on an equally impressive crypt, accessible by the side stairs. But it is not for its architecture or decoration that the cathedral became famous in Czech history: on August 4, 1306, while the building was at the center of a political intrigue against the Přemyslids, King Wenceslas III was assassinated there. This murder marked the abrupt end of the dynasty and would send the country into chaos before the Luxembourg dynasty took over a few years later. Today, the beautiful facade recently restored and the sober but colorful and bright interior are the main attractions of the building.

This is the part of the Jeseník mountains where the relief is the steepest. Remains quite soft, taking up, you can admire the forest that weaves as far as the eye can see.

Between Šumperk and Jeseník, you can stop in Červenehorské Sedlo. From here, a marked path takes you to the highest point of the massif, mount Praděd (1 491 m). At the top of the latter, why not eat in the telephone tower 160 m high? While lunch, you can admire the landscape around even more, because if the weather is nice, you can see, it seems, the Slovak mountains or Krkonoše. But much walks can be considered (from the cities, Ramzova, Šerák, Keprník, etc.). It is enough to trust the good menu provided by the Tourist Offices. Each season has their charm. In summer and autumn, the massif is a paradise for gatherers of fruit and wood mushrooms.

It is the largest site of its kind in Moravia. A path is set along one of the lakes more or less covered by vegetation.

This lake called mousse is the main one of this peat bog, an area dating back 7,000 years. Paintings explain the rare plants and animals found here, in this particular environment. As in all the peat bogs in Europe, the place is ideal for legends.

At 1,491 m, Mount Praded is the fifth highest peak in the Czech Republic. It can be reached from Karlova Studánka. Follow the signs to the Barborka hostel, from there a 4 km marked trail (easy level) leads up to the summit, passing some waterfalls and other natural wonders. At the top, the 145 m high TV tower houses a good restaurant, but a good picnic will prove to be just as pleasant and less touristy. The summit can also be reached by a 12 km trail from Červenohorské sedlo (on Route 44).

Don't hesitate to take a walk through the Šipka National Park and Memorial with its many monuments and statues dedicated to Czech personalities, and a magnificent view of the city. At the foot of the hill you will see the entrance to the famous Šipka Cave (Jeskyně Šipka), where the jawbone of a Neanderthal child and other Paleolithic artifacts were discovered in 1880. A nice walk to take and a great chlorophyll bath in perspective.

You will find out about the activities of the city and its surroundings and the accommodation options.

Inaugurated in 1902, in the heart of the city, this park incorporates both urban (part of the city walls and the Jewish Gate) and natural (rocks and a branch of the Morava River) elements. The paths are lined with chestnut, lime, ash, maple and beech trees, as well as many flowers. The park is divided into several gardens. In the alpine garden, for example, you will find a dwarf Japanese white pine and other rare species.

More than a visit, the Michal mine offers a fascinating exploration of the region's industrial destiny. Coal mining in Ostrava began in 1850 and the Michal mine soon became one of the most modern in Europe, and the first to be electrified in the early 1910s. Nationalized in 1945, it participated in the industrial development of the region and the USSR, employing 2,500 miners. In 1960, the network of mines under the Michal mine was connected to other mines but profitability was declining. On May 30, 1993, the last coal car left the mine and most of the shafts were filled in. The site nevertheless reopened in 2000, after many years of transformation, to offer visitors an extraordinary experience. Following the daily life of a miner on his way to work, the visit begins with the administrative offices, the suspended changing rooms, the shower rooms... Furniture and equipment of the period have been arranged to evoke their world as well as that of the geologists. The surface visit ends with the control room, evocative of a Star Trek episode from the late 1960s! In the outer buildings, we discover the enormous machine rooms, those that were used to send electricity into the mine shafts, to ventilate them, to make the first drillings... Their state of conservation is excellent and will allow enthusiasts to plunge into a little-known page of technology east of the Iron Curtain.

In this charming little town 10 km from Opava are two of the most beautiful castles in Silesia: the Red Castle and the White Castle. They stand on a hill and overlook the town and the surrounding area. The White Castle, dating from the 16th century, was once in Renaissance style, but after reconstructions in the 18th century it took on a classical appearance. The Red Castle was built at the end of the 19th century to host cultural events.

This castle and its superb ruins are those of a huge complex. Located on a wooded hill, this fortress, which seems to emerge suddenly from the forest, was built in the 13th century to protect the entire region (Moravská Brána). The fortification system (rows of walls, towers, 6 gates) is impressive. Different architectural styles are represented, testifying to countless destructions, reconstructions and developments over the centuries.

It is partly bounded by old fortifications and is organized around the large L-shaped square, T. G. Masaryka náměstí. It is charming and quite well preserved: Renaissance town hall, arcaded houses, Baroque fountains representing John of Nepomuk and St. Florent, Marian column... Among the many buildings that can be admired is the Church of St. James (Sv. Jakuba) and its curious Renaissance bell tower, separate from the main building.

What a look! This real fairy-tale castle dominates the landscape and seduces from the start with its high keep, small pointed towers, access bridge, and walls that make you dizzy. Originally, it was a fortified castle from the early 14th century where King George of Poděbrady is said to have been born. In 1696, it passed into the hands of the Teutonic Knights order. Between 1896 and 1910, from its ruins it was rebuilt on a romantic model, to make it the summer residence of Eugene of Habsburg, head of this order at that time. The Gothic elements of the castle were emphasized as much as possible. In 1939, the order was dissolved and the place was requisitioned by the Nazis, who took away part of the rich collections. Inside, there are beautiful rooms and a huge kitchen. The neo-Gothic chapel houses the steles of the masters of the German order from 1395 to 1515. The rooms are filled with period furniture and decorative objects, even if not all of them were originally located in this castle. The conservation team organizes exciting thematic tours (in English) throughout the annual opening period: the castle in winter, a special children's tour, and a technical tour focusing on castle construction. Please check the website for the schedule of these tours and make your reservation. The castle is particularly well known in the Czech Republic, where its exceptional state of preservation has allowed it to appear in numerous Czech short and feature films.