The capital of the Czech Republic is not the only place worth visiting in this beautiful country. There are many no less charming settlements that can amaze and enchant their guests. Without a doubt, Olomouc is one of these cities. This is a charming place, which has an area of only 103 square kilometers. Despite this, Olomouc is the sixth-largest city in the Czech Republic and home to a great number of ancient landmarks, many of which are true masterpieces of architecture. Experienced travelers say that Olomouc is much like Prague but without hordes of tourists and urban noise. Magnificent squares with Baroque fountains have become a calling card of the city. They have been decorating this region of the Czech Republic since the 18th century.
According to an old Renaissance period legend, Julius Caesar was the founder of Olomouc. He built a town on the site of the former Roman military camp. However, historians do not agree with this opinion and continue studying the subject. The settlement officially received the town status only in 1253. Over almost four centuries, Olomouc was the center of the province of Moravia. During the Thirty Years’ War, in 1640, the Swedish army captured the Czech city. The occupation period lasted eight years.
Undoubtedly, Olomouc is rich in attractions. One day is definitely not enough to see all landmarks of the Czech city, and each of these landmarks deserves a visit. The Town Hall building dominates the skyline of the main square. This is a fine example of Gothic-Renaissance architecture with Baroque elements. Nowadays, the city administration is open in the building, as well as a wedding hall, an art gallery, and several restaurants. The first town hall building dates back to the 14th century. That building was wooden and soon was destroyed by fire. After that, the government of Olomouc decided to build a stone town hall.
It took twenty-three years to finish the new town hall, which finally opened in 1443. The building was remade and reconstructed several times in the coming centuries. The Town Hall that we can see nowadays is a three-story building with an attractive gothic hall and the Chapel of St. Jerome with gorgeous figural motifs. The seventy-meter-tall tower with the astronomical clock is another notable part of the building. The clock was restored after World War II.
Do you like to visit the main cathedral in Olomouc? Saint Wenceslas' Cathedral is a must-visit place in the Czech city. It was built in 1140. Nowadays, the scared building is a famous Romanesque architectural landmark. Several towers, the height of which is roughly one hundred meters, decorate the popular shrine. The total length of the cathedral is almost eighty meters, and its width is roughly eighteen meters. Such significant size makes it possible to provide space for almost 5,000 prayers at the same time.
The sacred building changed its look more than once over the centuries. As each renovation brought new elements to the building, the solid-looking cathedral that we can see today is an interesting combination of Romanesque, Gothic, pseudo-Gothic, and Baroque architectural styles. The cathedral exhibits an important relic – a treasury box shaped like the Biblical Ark with four hundred diamonds inside.
Are you interested in aviation? In Olomouc, you can visit a museum that is open at the city’s aerodrome. This museum was established in 2009. The main exhibition of the venue is dedicated to the history of aviation in the Czech Republic and Czechoslovakia. Visitors can look at different models of aircraft. Moreover, they can see the workshop where all airplanes get a new life.
There is no trouble reaching Olomouc from any Czech city and even from many countries of the world. Krakow is situated approximately two hundred kilometers from Olomouc. Katowice and Prague also have a direct connection to the Czech city – daily trains are connecting the settlements. A train from Brno is, perhaps, the fastest way to reach Olomouc. The journey time is roughly two hours.
Sightseeing in Czech Republic: things to see
Besides interesting architectural landmarks, there are many beautiful parks and nature reserves in Czech. The so called “Czech Switzerland” is the most famous landmark of its kind. The reserve is located in the northern part of the country and features dense forests, deep canyons, mountain rivers, picturesque valleys, green hills and rocks. The Czech Paradise Park is a perfect place for camping and active rest. The park is located in the piedmont area, and it’s easy to reach it from such ancient cities as Turnov, Mlada Boleslav and Jicin that are located in the mountains. They are famous for magnificent religious buildings. It is also worth mentioning the Czech Caves National Park that had great archaeological and geological importance.
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