Archbishop’s chateau Kroměříž

Kroměříž

Originally a castle, and later a chateau as well as the residence of the Olomouc bishops. After its destruction by the Swedes in the Thirty Years’ War, Bishop Karl II of Liechtenstein-Castelcorn rebuilt it into a sumptuous early baroque palace with an Italian flair. The chateau has exceptionally well-preserved interiors, witnesses to a great number of important events. In 1848 the Austrian Imperial Court sat in the Parliamentary Hall and the Emperor’s Room was host to the Russian Tsar Alexander III in 1885. The gems of the castle are its famed chateau library, with roughly 40 thousand bound titles including graphic works, drawings, and a sheet music archive, and the world famous picture collection, which contains Titian’s Apollo and Marsyas, the most valuable painting in the Czech Republic.

Flower Garden

Kroměříž

Founded in the second half of the 17th century on infertile and swampy land, outside the walls of the city at that time. The garden was created in the spirit of mannerism, and abounds in carefully trimmed shrubbery, mazes, as well as beautiful flowers. It features a colonnade with statues of Classical deities and a rotunda, in which a Foucault pendulum demonstrates the turning of the Earth upon its axis. The entire complex is interlaced by a complicated waterworks, which feeds the fish ponds, fountains, the pool in the aviary, water jets and the “water gags” in the interior of the rotunda.

The Kroměříž Chateau Garden

Kroměříž

The Kroměříž chateau is surrounded by an unparalleled system of gardens, which, together with the chateau, are listed on the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage. Originally the chateau vegetable and flower garden, it was transformed in the 17th century into a gorgeous baroque garden, which is connected to the chateau via a stairway and extends to the river. In the 19th century it was further extended into a stylish landscaped park over an area of 64 hectares. Rare shrubs and trees are complemented by streams and fish ponds, romantic architecture and original sculptural details.

Castle Šternberk

Šternberk

Šternberk Castle was founded in the second half of the 13th century, most likely by Zdeslav of Chumec and Šternberk. Further construction was carried out at the end of the 15th century under the rule of the Berks of Dubá and Lipá. In the 16th century the originally gothic castle was reconstructed in the renaissance style.

Chateau Tovačov

Tovačov

Tovačov is surrounded by water and alluvial forest on three sides. According to legend, the castle was founded as a sanctuary for hunters. It was reconstructed as a renaissance chateau by the last of the Cimburks. The characteristic feature of the chateau is its nearly 100m high Spanish tower, from atop of which visitors have an unforgettable and unspoiled view of the surroundings. Of interest are its chateau chapel with early baroque stucco work and a staircase in the chateau’s left wing styled after that in the Vienna Opera House.

Bílá Lhota Arboretum

Bílá Lhota

The Bílá Lhota Arboretum features indigenous trees as well as rare European and exotic overseas varieties. The park holds more than 400 species of trees. The arboretum was established around the year 1700 and several of the trees planted at that time still grow there today.

Bezruč Park

Olomouc

The park runs along the medieval and Maria Theresa city walls, and thanks to its unequalled landscape, made up of rocks, city walls and the Mill Stream, the walks here are of an exceptional quality. Part of Bezruč Park is made up of the Botanical Garden, boasting an Alpine section and rose gardens where more than 400 types of roses bloom.

Botanical Garden

Prostějov

The Botanical Garden in Prostějov was founded in 1933 to serve the needs of schools and the general public. It has been on the international list of significant botanical gardens since 1986. With an area of 0.5 ha the garden in particular features alpine plant settings and herbs; 1,000 species of plants from 104 families are represented.

Botanical gardens with rosarium

Olomouc

Skalka Spa

Skalka

Skalka Spa is located 12 kilometres from Prostějov. Though you might think you are heading into the heart of Haná, the opposite is true. Skalka is situated in the slightly hilly terrain of the farthest spurs of the Drahanské Highlands. The isolated village is hidden in a valley surrounded by hills, ensuring the composition of the local mineral waters.

Horizont Natural Paradise

Bystrovany

One interesting trip is to Přírodní ráj (Natural Paradise), an arboretum in Bystrovany u Olomouce, with 100,000 visitors annually between April and October. Its five-metre waterfall, set among 200 species of foreign plants and woods, is not to be missed. A Wednesday night tour lit by bamboo torches is an unforgettable experience.

Smetana Park

Olomouc

Extending between the Theresa and Katherine gates, and featuring tall chestnuts and lindens, as well as bountiful flowers and dendrological specimens. Its atmosphere is further enhanced by interesting sculpture and palm, cactus, tropical and subtropical greenhouses.

Chateau park

Lipník nad Bečvou

Lovely garden at the local chateau, founded in the mid-17th century by Prince Dietrichstein. The arrangement of the chateau park was first influenced by French parks; from 1880 the park began to be arranged in the style of the English natural landscape park, and this appearance has been maintained to the present day. Part of the complex is also the unique roofed garden, the oldest in the Czech Republic. Interesting trees are to be found in the park, such as the Weeping Green Beech, several branches of which have taken root and together with the original trunk have created an interesting arrangement. This tree was a finalist in the 2005 Tree of the Year contest.

Chateau Čechy pod Kosířem

Čechy pod Kosířem

Originally, a fort stood on the site of the chateau in Čechy pod Kosířem, which was rebuilt into a chateau from 1839–1846. The greatest role in the chateau’s and town’s history was played by the Silva-Taroucci family.

Chateau Náměšť na Hané

Náměšť na Hané

The chateau at Náměšť na Hané features unique collections not found anywhere else in the country. Visitors may view the collection of Meissen porcelain and the gold ceremonial and black travelling coaches of the Olomouc bishops and archbishops from the 18th to the 20th century. The tour also takes you through the chateau gallery and the Empire style chateau chapel. The chateau park, with its four paths oriented to the points of the compass, is also worth seeing.