Olomouc - tips by travel authority Howard Hillman

Olomouc

Czech Republic

Why
Olomouc
is special

The old section of Olomouc boasts one of Europe's most attractive historical cityscapes. Another part of Olomouc's appeal is that life goes on at a slow, relaxing pace (partially because it has not yet been fully discovered by tourists).

Olumouc Upper square

The historic and tourism heart of Olomouc is the Upper Square ("Horni Nam"). Its five major attractions:

Holy Trinity Column
This 250 year old carved stone column soars 35 meters or 115 feet (see picture's foreground). It is one of the most elaborate and best preserved Baroque columns existing in Europe today.

Fountains
The Upper (and Lower) square is adorned with 17th and 18th century fountains.

Old Town Hall
It commandingly sits in the middle of the square (see photo's background). It is a convincing half century old replica of the earlier 15th century Gothic city hall that stood in the same spot.

Astronomical Clock
The Old Town Hall's exterior wall is adorned with oversized 15th century style astronomical time pieces. At noon, knee-high statues representing various trades carousel above those embedded wall tickers, to the delight of tourists who assemble to view this midday event.

Baroque architecture
The square is surrounded by interesting baroque buildings painted with various pastel hues.

Must-see churches

Olomouc is blessed with noteworthy churches. The top three:

St. Wenceslas Cathedral
Huge in size and history. It is the town's most respected church.

Visitation of Virgin Mary Church
Part of a monastery. Sits on a hill within view of Olomouc. The interior is stunning.

St. Morris Church
Has a Baroque organ with 10,400 pipes, a world's record. Special organ performances for the public are held.

Olomouc

tips & insights

Getting there

Olomouc is easily reached from Prague. It lies 270 kilometers (170 miles) east of the capital. Express trains take slightly over 3 hours and pass through forests and bucolic landscapes.

Getting around

The historic district is best explored on foot. It's relatively compact and parts are closed to vehicular traffic.

View

Climb the tower of the Old Town Hall for a panoramic view.

On many nights

The fountains and Old Town Hall tower are lit.

Cultural events

Olomouc has many cultural offerings including festivals and classical music performances.

Accommodtions

The town has dozens of hotels and pensions. The two best are the Alley (new, contemporary, with hospitable service) and Gemo (more restrained and traditional).

Near Olomouc

The city can be used as a base for day trips. Bouzov Castle (about 30 kilometers or 20 miles away) is a popular destination.

Pronunciation guide

Olomouc: OHL-lue-mootz