Towns

Welcome to Šternberk, a modern town with a rich history. For over 105 years, the town has been linked with car races that are held on the famous Ecce Homo track and in town. In 2011, a unique Time Exhibition will open to visitors. The main feature of the town is a castle and the monumental Cathedral of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary with within a former Augustinian Monastery.

Practical tips:

The Šternberk municipal information centre

Expozice času, ČSA 19, 785 01 Šternberk

+420 585 000 801, www.sternberk.eu,  www.mkzsternberk.cz , mic@mkzsternberk.cz

mimo sezónu po–pá 08.00–12.00, 13.00-17.00, VII..–VIII.. po–pá  8.00-12.00, 13.00–17.00, so-ne  9.00–18.00 hod.

Recommended:

The Šternberk State Castle (National monument)

The dominant feature of the town dates back to 1253–1269 when the castle was built by Czech nobleman Zdeslav of Sternberg.

The Cathedral of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary

The second most dominant feature of Šternberk, one of largest churches in Moravia, comes from 1371. The church is 65 m long, its nave is 30 m high and its towers are 60 m high.

The former Augustinian Monastery

The current appearance of the former monastery near the Šternberk castle dates from the 18^th century and is the result of the creative activities of its last provosts.

The Time Exhibition

Dating from the 16^th century, the building housing the Time Exhibition is one of the oldest houses in Šternberk. The new exhibition presents all there is about time and its measurement and is the only exhibition of its kind in the Czech Republic.

A walk around the urban monument zone with hand crank machines

The town of Šternberk offers a tour of the urban monument zone that includes stops at the most significant and most beautiful monuments and best-preserved townhouses, a unique tourist attraction that is unrivalled in the Czech Republic. A hand crank machine is a “talking” information device that offers excellent entertainment combined with acquiring information. By turning the crank, you generate electricity and once you select a language, you receive a roughly three-minute narration. There are nine stops plus two light boards. Turn the crank and listen...

The Plague Column

The richly gold-plated Marian Column dating from 1719 commemorates the saving of the town from the last deadly plague epidemic.

Do not miss:

Cultural Summer at the Castle

The “Cultural Summer at the Castle” includes a wide variety of cultural and social events that take place throughout the summer at the Šternberk State Castle.

The Ecce Homo Sports Hall

The new sports hall in Dvorská Street was built in 2007 on the site of an unused building courtyard on the border of the town’s monument zone.

Make sure to visit other historic towns :

Olomouc
The history of Olomouc dates back to the 10^th century AD at which time it was the crossroads of important trade routes. Thanks to the city’s historical importance, ancient university and cultural, religious and military traditions, Olomouc became the centre of the Haná region.

The Olomouc information centre

Horní náměstí 583 , 779 11 Olomouc
+420 585 513 385, Fax: +420 585 220 843, infocentrum@olomouc.eu, http://tourism.olomouc.eu

The Holy Trinity Column
The Holy Trinity Column is the largest Baroque sculptural group that is part of a single sculpture in Central Europe. The column is 32 meters tall and there is a chapel in its lower portion.

The Astronomical Clock
The present-day appearance of the astronomical clock dates from the 1950s, reflecting the then-official socialist realism aesthetics.

Churches
Olomouc’s churches, cathedrals and chapels take you across historical epochs and architectural styles, from the Romanesque to the Neo-Gothic styles.

The set of Baroque fountains
Large stone fountains feature figural decoration inspired by classical mythology. Completing the set of fountains is the seventh Arion’s fountain by the well-known contemporary sculptor Ivan Theimer, an Olomouc native living in France.

Uničov
Uničov was founded in 1213 by Vladislav Jindřich, the Moravian Margrave and brother of King Ottokar I of Bohemia, and it became one of the most important medieval towns. The town’s appearance has changed considerably in recent years. It attracts visitors with its numerous sites, most notably the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the medieval fortifications with their Medelská gateway and the Marian Column towering above the square in front of the Renaissance town hall.

The municipal information centre

Masarykovo nám. 29, Uničov
+420 585 054 880 (i fax), www.unicov.cz, mic@unicov.cz

The former town armory – today, the architecturally remarkable Renaissance building serves as a municipal museum with a permanent exhibition on the history of the royal town of Uničov.

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary dates from the first half of the 14^th century. Throughout its existence, it has been burnt down and remodeled many times. In recent years, it has undergone extensive renovations.

The Marian Column was created between 1729 and 1743 by J. A. Heinz and S. Tischler.

The Venice of the Haná region. This is one of the nicknames of the royal town that was founded in the 1^st half of the 13^th century by King Ottokar II of Bohemia. The 6 arms of the Morava River flowing through the town used to provide a major source of livelihood and even today, they still give Litovel its unique character. Here is located the tallest tower on the Morava River. It flows directly under the square and has third oldest functioning stone bridge in the Czech Republic. In addition to numerous historic monuments, you will also be enchanted by the beauties of nature, town parks with ponds and the nearby forests within the Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area.

Litovel
The Litovel tourist information centre

nám. Př. Otakara 754, Litovel 784 01
+420 585 342 300 www.mestolitovel.cz , info@bavi.cz
po-pá 8.30– 17.00, so VI.-IX. 9.00–17 hod.

The Bridge of Saint John  Technological sight
The stately stone bridge (1592) is the oldest stone bridge in Moravia and, after the Charles Bridge in Prague and the bridge in Písek; it is the third oldest functioning stone bridge in the Czech Republic.

The Town Hall Tower
At 72 m tall, the Town Hall Tower is the tallest structure on the Morava River. One of the Morava River’s arms called Nečíz flows immediately below the tower.

The Litovel Museum
Throughout its existence, the museum has used multiple locations to store and display its collections. From1919 to today, the museum has been located in a building that used to serve as a shooting range for a local shooting club. The house sign on the façade still reminds us of the building’s original purpose as do the newly-created shooting targets behind the museum building (today the summer garden of a restaurant that is located on the ground floor).

Lipník nad Bečvou
Lipník nad Bečvou is an ancient town that lies in the middle of the Moravian Gate. The town has numerous monuments and beautiful surroundings – towering above the town are the Oderské Hills on the one side and the Hostýnské Hills with the Helfštýn Castle on the other. Since 1989, Lipník nad Bečvou has been an urban monument preservation area. The town boasts a well-preserved historic core that is enclosed by a fortification wall with preserved bastions. In the past, there used to be a large Jewish community in the town, as evidenced by its synagogue and two Jewish cemeteries.

The tourist information centre

Nám. T.G.Masaryka 13, 751 31 Lipník nad Bečvou
+420 581 773 763, www.tic@mek-lipniknb.cz

The Bell Tower

The Bell Tower in Lipník nad Bečvou is the only one in Moravia to have survived in its original form and its size sets it apart from other surviving bell towers. The Bell Tower is a massive quadrilateral structure in the Renaissance style, 24 meters tall, 9.7 meters wide.

The West wing of the chateau – the stables
The chateau in Lipník nad Bečvou was built at the beginning of the 17^th century by the Bruntál family of Vrbno. In the west courtyard wing, there originally used to be stables, a carriage hall and apartments for coachmen.

Náměšť na Hané
The earliest written record of Náměšť na Hané dates from 1141 (Zik’s List). There are three medieval settlements within the town’s territory: the ‘Lower Chateau’ (until recently serving as a malt plant), the Castle (a ruin) and the ‘Upper Chateau’ that is owned by the town of Náměšť na Hané. The chateau chapel of the Holy Trinity was built next to the chateau in 1672 and it acquired its Empire appearance in 1834.

The tourist information centre in Náměšť na Hané

Zámek Náměšť na Hané, Hrad 1, 783 44  Náměšť na Hané

Prostějov
Prostějov is situated in the middle of Moravia. It spans across an area of 46.6 square kilometers at an altitude of 225 meters. The earliest written mention of the city dates back to 1141, when the then-village went by the name of Prostějovice. Currently, the city is a regional, administrative and industrial centre with almost 47,000 inhabitants. There are two rivers that flow through or in the immediate vicinity of Prostějov, namely the Hloučela and the Romže Rivers. With the “Amber Trail” international cycling route running through the city, it is ideal for cycling.

The regional information centre

Pernštýnské nám. 8, Prostějov 796 01
+420 582 329 723 , www.prostejov.eu, informace@prostejov.eu
provozní doba: po–pá 9.00–17.00, so, ne 9.00–12.00 hod.

The city hall
At 66 m tall, the city hall building is the dominant feature of the square. In addition, the city hall has an astronomical clock that shows – among other things – the calendar months of the year and the position of the Moon and the Sun in the sky. The unique structure was built between 1911 and 1914 by architect Karel Hugo Kepka in a style that is called Historicism, featuring Art Nouveau and Neo-Renaissance elements.

The National House
This is a building that attracts visitors from all over Europe to visit Prostějov. It is one of the most remarkable works of Czech Modern and Art Nouveau architecture.

The Prostějov Chateau
The Prostějov Chateau’s history dates back to the 16^th century, to the period of Jan of Pernstein, who chose Prostějov as one of his residences.

Šumperk
Throughout its rich history, the town of Šumperk that was founded in the 2^nd half of the 13^th century has earned many epithets – the beautiful hill, the Little Vienna or the gate to the Jeseníky Mountains. The town gradually flourished to become the administrative and economic centre of northwest Moravia. Today, the town offers its residents and visitors a wealth of cultural and sports activities. In addition, its many attractions include major sights and exhibitions, as well as the cozy corners of its beautiful parks and orchards.

The regional municipal and information centre

Hlavní třída 22, 787 31 Šumperk
+420 583 214 000 (i fax), icsumperk@seznam.cz ,www.infosumperk.cz

The view from the Town Hall Tower
The balcony of the Town Hall Tower offers a unique view of the town of Šumperk and of the panorama of the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains, which boasts the tallest mountain in Moravia, the Praděd Mountain.

Walking tours of Šumperk
There are three thematic guided walking tours: “Taking a Walk from the 13^th to the 21^st Century”, “Where Witches used to Live” and “The Birth of Little Vienna”.

The Magical Procedures exhibition at the ‘Geschader’s House’
This valuable historical building is famous for the trials of 1679–94.

The Church of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary
The church originally belonged to a Dominican monastery that was founded in Šumperk in the late 13^th century. Its original Gothic appearance was covered by extensive Baroque modifications after a great town fire in 1669.

The Homeland Museum in Šumperk
The Šumperk museum is the largest facility within the Homeland Museum in Šumperk, in terms of both the scope of its collections and the size of its exhibitions and exhibition areas.

The Church of the Holy Virgin Barbara
This is a Baroque church with epic frescoes by Ignác Oderlický.

The former Šumperk chateau
The original Renaissance chateau with many well-preserved valuable architectural features now houses a secondary school.

Přerov
The town of Přerov lies at the heart of Moravia and it boasts a chateau, fortification walls and well-preserved 15^th century townhouses that are found in Horní Square. Every year, this historic portion of the town comes alive with the ‘In and Under the Castle’ folk festival and the ‘St. Lawrence Festivities’. Do not forget to visit the unique Michalov town park. Another attraction is the world-famous Předmostí u Přerova archaeological site where you can visit the Monument to Mammoth Hunters.

The municipal information centre

Kratochvílova 14 (pasáž),  Přerov 750 02
+420 581 217 187, www.prerov.eu, mic@medialine.cz
The chateau
The chateau is located on the site of the original castle. The castle served to protect and defend the crossroads of trade routes and the ford across the Bečva River. Today, it houses the Museum of Jan Amos Komenský.

The Townhouse
Dating from 1897, the house is a cultural and social centre in which theatrical performances, concerts and social events take place.
Michalov Park
While visiting the town, do not forget to take a walk around the Michalov town park that was created in 1904 according to a design by Prague-based landscape architect František Thomayer.
The Monument to Mammoth Hunters
The area of the Předmostí u Přerova archaeological site features the Monument to Mammoth Hunters that was erected in 2006 on the spot where partial skeletons of these Palaeolithic animals had been found.

Mohelnice
The town is located amidst beautiful nature in the Mohelnická brázda depression, within the imaginary triangle between the Bouzov, the Mírov and the Úsov Castles. Founded in the 13^th century, Mohelnice is an ancient town with many well-preserved sights and an interesting homeland museum. However, it also has modern industry and the largest event of its kind – the ‘Mohelnický Dostavník’ country music festival.

The information office at the Mohelnice Municipal Authority

Náměstí Svobody 1, 789 85 Mohelnice
+420 583 452 111, mesto@mohelnice.cz , www.mohelnice.cz

The Parish Church of St. Thomas of Canterbury
The church blends various styles, from the Gothic and the Renaissance to the Baroque and the Neo-Gothic styles.

The Town Tower
Visible from afar, this 72-metre-tall tower is the dominant feature of the Mohelnice skyline.

The bastion house in Kostelní Square
was part of town fortifications, as evidenced by the semi-circular Gothic bastion from the late 15^th century and the actual location of the house.

The Plague Column
The Plague Column has stood in Svobody Square since 1717.

Town fortifications
The remnants of medieval fortifications from the mid 16^th century have survived along the perimeter of the historic core.