What to see in Olomouc (Czech Republic), a little-known jewel of Moravia

Surely after your first trip to Prague You will have been captivated by the beauty and charm of the capital of the Czech Republic as it has happened to us

And if you have had the opportunity to take an excursion, for example, to Carlsbad o Cesky Krumlov, you will have noticed that you can find that beauty and attractiveness in other places in that country.

In my most recent trip to the Czech Republic, after the one I did a few years ago (which led to the birth of this blog), I have reaffirmed the feeling I had then, that it is a beautiful country.

On this trip I had the opportunity to return to Olomouc, historic city located in the east of the country, not far from the border with Poland, which allowed me to get to know her more in depth.

You should know that, over the centuries, it has had a similar preeminence to the Prague.

In fact, during the Middle Ages it was a richer city than the current capital of Czechia, and an example of this is that it had a bishop, prince and abbot, since he was the main political, cultural and religious center of Moravia.

In a country in which the majority of the population currently declares themselves atheist, Olomouc It has historically been a center of the Catholic religion, as you will see during your walk through its historic center, where you can see up to 28 churches.

Of course, in the 20s of the last century, after the creation of the state of Czechoslovakia once separated from the Austrian empire, Olomouc It became the center of the Protestant Hussite religion.

Its historic center does not show us that long history, since at the beginning of the 17th century it was destroyed, and after its reconstruction, we now find a city whose architecture is characterized by careful baroque buildings.

And, above all, a monumental city, the second most important in the Czech Republic after Prague, and which has been declared Heritage awarded by the Unesco.

Below I will give you some tips for visiting Olomouc which will surely be useful to you.

Tips for visiting Olomouc

The first thing I have to tell you is that Olomouc It is presented as a highly recommended alternative if you want to return to Prague and take the opportunity to get to know another city.

Since you can get there by fast train in just two hours, and since it is a relatively small city, if you leave early in the morning you will have time to visit it and return in the afternoon on the same day.

The center of Olomouc in some ways will remind you more of Vienna than to Prague.

In fact, Olomouc is almost the same distance (276 kilometers from Vienna) from the two cities.

The city has a circular avenue that in some way will remind you of the Ring of Vienna, which surrounds its historic center, although this is smaller.

In fact, you will do your visit to Olomouc without any problem on foot.

In addition, the rows of facades of baroque buildings will bring to mind the image of Vienna more than that of Prague.

This is the experience of visiting Olomouc

Olomouc is a city whose good thing in our opinion is that it is very easy to visit.

Although it has several very beautiful and interesting corners throughout the city due to its historical past, the essential sites to see are all quite close.

Town Hall Square

La Town Hall Squarecalled Horni square, It contains the greatest attractions of the city, the most beautiful in Czech Moravia.

The entire structure of the city revolves around said square, of enormous dimensions, in the center of which the City Hall is located (Town hall), building built in the year 1375.

Horni Square is extended by the elongated and continuous Dorni Square, in which the sources of Neptune and Jupiter, from around 1700, and the Plague ColumnOf 1726.

The combination of both squares, with their beautiful corners and monuments, undoubtedly justify a visit to Olomouc.

Olomouc Astronomical Clock

One of the corners that you should not miss in your trip to Prague is Astronomical clock of the old town hall, in the old town square.

But do you know that in the city of Olomouc, in Moravia, can you see a really spectacular astronomical clock?

You can also see this clock on one of the facades of the imposing and beautiful town hall building, in the Olomouc Town Hall Square.

The first thing that will surprise you are the large dimensions of the space dedicated to the clock, with a mosaic wall framed by an arch, where the various elements of the clock are housed.

But look closely and you will realize that the decoration of the Olomouc City Hall Astronomical Clock It is not the usual religious images, but rather shows the characteristic symbology of socialist realism.

But then, what era is the watch from?

Its current decoration may confuse us, but in reality the Astronomical clock dates back to XV century and was originally built in the Gothic style.

The truth is that it was rebuilt several times. The last one, after the Second World War, when it was seriously damaged by a grenade.

The astronomical clock was rebuilt between 1947 and 1955, and the new decoration shows elements of the socialist realism, regime that prevailed in Czech Republic up to 1989.

Thus, the mosaic background presents us with a worker and a chemist, and the 12 moving figures of the clock show characters such as a farmer, a worker, a soccer player, a milkman...

Without a doubt, the best time to see the astronomical clock is at 12 noon, when you will see all its figures move on a carousel, and the parade will end with the crowing of the rooster.

Olomouc Cathedral

La gothic cathedral of saint wenceslas, is the main cathedral of the Moravian region and the most important religious monument in Olomouc.

Located in the northern part of the city, in front of a garden area, and next to the place where the old Olomouc Castle, was completed in the year 1141 as a Romanesque church.

After a big fire, the St. Wenceslas Cathedral It was rebuilt in the year 1265 with Gothic style early. With three naves, the choir was incorporated in this extension.

During the Renaissance, the Chapel of Saint Stanislaus was incorporated into the temple.

Finally, in the last part of the 19th century, its reconstruction in Gothic style was completed, and the two front towers date from that time.

The main tower of the Olomouc Cathedral, at 107 meters, is the highest in Moravia and the second highest in the Czech Republic.

When you get close to visit the Olomouc Cathedral, on the left you will find a building where the Archdiodesan Museum. In addition to being able to see remains of the Romanesque wall of Olomouc, in its collection of religious objects you will find the imposing Bishop's Carriage, Rococo style.

Trinity Column

When you travel through different cities and towns of the Czech Republic, in the central square of each town you will find a typical column of plague, very common monument in Central Europe, which was erected to thank for the disappearance of a plague epidemic.

But, without a doubt, it is in the monumental city of Olomouc, in Moravia, where you will find the most impressive Plague Column.

Indeed, in the beautiful Olomouc Town Hall Square, near the municipal building, you have the Column of the Holy Trinity, 32 meters high, double what is usual in plague columns.

A good example of its majesty is that inside the column there is a small space like a chapel, and that throughout the monument there are even 50 original sculptures of saints.

In fact, Olomouc Trinity Column It is considered the largest sculpture group in Central Europe.

The construction of the column began in 1716 by a carver and architect from Olomouc, but the work was continued after his death for 40 years by other local carvers.

At the top of the column the sculpture of the Holy Trinity dominates.

In 2000, UNESCO declared Heritage to the Column of the Holy Trinity, which gave a new reason to visit the city and its beautiful Town Hall Square.

Gothic Church of Saint Maurice and Archbishop's Palace

Despite the declared vast majority of atheists in the Czech Republic, You will see that it is an ecclesiastical city.

In fact in Olomouc There are 28 churches and it has the Archbishop's Palace because it is the seat of ecclesiastical power.

Adjacent to this square you find the Dolni square, and on the opposite side of the Town Hall Square, you have the gothic church of Saint Maurice.

Built in 1412, its greatest attraction is its organ with 2.300 pipes, built in 1745, one of the largest in Central Europe.

On your walk through the city you should also have 2 other religious points of reference such as the archiepiscopal palace, a sign of the religious power of the city, which you will find in the Canons Quarter; then the baroque church of San Miguel, with its three domes

How to get to Olomouc

Olomouc is located 284 kilometers east of Prague, on the route that passes through Brno, which means 2 hours and 25 minutes of travel by car.

Now, if you go by train to Olomouc, from the Prague central station It takes only two hours to arrive.

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