Towns

This picturesque town below the Beskydy Mountains is interwoven with history. The regularly- shaped central square is lined with arcades on all four sides. The Žerotín Castle houses a permanent exhibition on hat making, which has long traditions in the town. Culture lovers can enjoy the Beskydské Theater and the Květen Cinema. The town offers a number of sports facilities: a swimming pool, tennis court, squash court, winter stadium, basketball hall and many others.

Practical tips:

Information center – Infocentrum

Masarykovo nám. 45, 741 01  Nový Jičín

+420 556 701 888, www.novyjicin.mic.cz, icentrum@novyjicin-town.cz

Recommended:

The Town Hall

is one of the most remarkable buildings on the square, decorated with a clock tower and a lookout gallery.

The Žerotín Castle

The rebuilding from the late 15^th century gave rise to this Renaissance castle. Today, it houses the Museum of the Nový Jičín Region, whose exposition maps the history of hat making, hat fashion styles and the town’s history. Museum exhibitions are regularly held in the historic rooms of the castle.

The Old Post Office Building

This Neo-Renaissance building from 1563 has two characteristic arcades. It hosted Russian Emperor Alexander and the famous General Suvorov.

The Town Fortification Bastion

The hexagonal south-east bastion from sandstone masonry has rectangular openings, some of them with Renaissance lattices, and key loopholes.

The Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

This monumental structure from the 18th century imitates the austere style of northern Jesuit churches. Inside the church is an altar with St Peter’s, St Paul’s, St Cyril’s and St Methodius’ statues.

The Nový Jičín Urban Monument Reservation Area

This is one of the most beautiful urban monument reservation areas in the Czech Republic. Its heart is made by a unique square lined with many historic buildings and arcades along all four sides. The most precious townhouse you can visit is the Old Post Office Building from 1563. The symbolic center of the square is the Plague Column with a statue of the Virgin Mary from 1710.

Beskydské Theater

This originally Neo-Renaissance building from 1866 was used as a German hall for cultural and social events.

Cinema

This functionalist building of the municipal cinema from 1930 was designed by Vienna architect Leo Kammel. It looks as if it were from another world.

Basketball hall with an indoor and outdoor pool – Nový Jičín is known not only for its hats, but also for basketball. First-league games are played here during the season.

The Municipal Sports Facility

This sports facility includes a winter stadium, the ABC hall for ball games, a bowling area, a football stadium that stays open all year round, tennis courts and a tennis hall.

Make sure to visit other historic towns :

Valašské Meziříčí

The town lies on the confluence of the Rožnovská and Vsetínská Bečva Rivers and it is the gateway the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mountains. There are two rivers, two towns, two town halls and two castles. It is referred to as the Athens of Moravian Wallachia and a pearl on the Bečva. A visit to the picturesque Wallachia capital can be welcome refreshment for both domestic and foreign travelers. There are many museums to visit (gobelins, Wallachian ghosts), a planetarium and a Baroque granary.

Information center – Infocentrum

Komenského 169, 757 01  Valašské Meziříčí

+420 571 615 200, +420 775 109 809, www.agenturavia.eu , info@agenturavia.eu

The Kinský Castle

The castle houses the Museum of the Wallachia Region.

The Moravian Goblin Manufacture

The manufacture was started in 1908 when academic painter Schlattauer brought the manufacturing of gobelins and carpets to the town. Today, you can try your hands on making a gobelin in the manufacture.

The Valašské Meziříčí Planetarium – The planetarium opened to the public in 1955. It holds all kinds of events for the general public and specialized seminars for both professional and lay astronomers.

Štramberk

This historic town at the foothills of the Beskydy Mountains is referred to as the Moravian Bethlehem for its picturesque beauty. The dominating feature of the town and its surroundings is the castle ruins with a tubular tower called Trúba (the Tube). The complex of folk architecture featuring Wallachian timbered houses from the 18^th and 19^th centuries is an unforgettable architectonic experience. Most of these houses are part of the urban monument reservation area. Štramberk is also famous for the painter Zdeněk Burian and for a savory gingerbread pastry called the Štramberk Ears.

Information center – Infocentrum

Záuličí 456 , 742 66  Štramberk

+420 556 812 085, www.stramberk.cz, mic@stramberk.cz

The Štramberská Trúba Castle

Štramberská Trúba is the last remaining part of a former castle from the end of the 13^th century. It is a tubular tower made from quarry stone, with a conical shingle roof. It was tuned into a view tower in 1903.

Zdeňka Burian Museum

Zdeněk Burian was a world-famous painter who specialized in painting prehistory. He spent some of his life in Štramberk.

The Šipka Cave

This is the most important place that made Štramberk famous in the world of science. A lower jawbone of a Neanderthal child was found here.

Hukvaldy

The location is popular with visitors because it offers both history and nature. Those who like music by Leoš Janáček should not miss the Leoš Janáček Memorial and the house he was born in. Visitors to Hukvaldy can attend the Janáčkovy Hukvaldy International Music Festival in July and August, and a number of other interesting events, held mostly at the castle, such as the Medieval Knights Festival, the Witch Burning Rally and Ghosts at the Castle.

Information center – Infocentrum

Hukvaldy 40, 739 46 Hukvaldy

+420 558 699 221, www.hukvaldy.eu, infocentrum@ihukvaldy.cz

Hukvaldy Castle Ruins with a game park

The inner castle consists of three wings connected by a perimeter wall and a tower. Do not miss the chance to walk in the large game park that also inspired the music genius Leoš Janáček. Each summer, the Janáčkovy Hukvaldy International Festival is held here, and in September you can visit the Hukvaldy Vintage, which marks the end of the castle season.

The Leoš Janáček Memorial

Opened in 2000, the Memorial houses an educational exposition that maps Janaček’s life and his relationship to his home town, Hukvaldy, and documents the connection between the genius loci and his music.

Bílovec

During the reign of the Lords of Kravaře, it was referred to as Odřivous’ Town. A legend tells the story of the Bílovec town emblem called Odřivous (the Folded Dart). Visitors can go to the Municipal Museum where they will learn all about the town’s history. There is also a Renaissance castle in the town center; unfortunately it is not open to the public. Note the paving that resembles a chessboard that was entered into the Guinness Book of Records.

Information center – Infocentrum

Slezské náměstí 1, 743 01  Bílovec

+420 556 411 545 , www.bilovec.cz,  info@bilovec.cz

The Municipal Museum

The bricked two-story building comes from the mid 18^th century and is found in the south-east corner of the square.

Slezské náměstí with a chessboard

In the town center is a town hall from 1593 and the Church of St Nicolas that closes the northern side of the square. Inside the church, there are paintings by native painter F. I. Leicher. The square’s rarity is its stone paving in the form of a chessboard where you can even play chess if you feel so inclined.

Kelč

This town, located on the border between Haná and Wallachia, among picturesque hills, boasts a longer history than some of the more famous and much larger cities. The first written mention comes from 1131. Kelč is also one of the youngest towns in the Czech Republic as its town charter was restored only on 1 July 1994 by the Parliament of the Czech Republic. It is an important archeological location of the Vsetín area. The historic center is an urban monument zone.

www.kelc.cz

The Kelč Castle – This originally late Gothic castle from 1585 – 1596 was rebuilt in the Renaissance style in the 17^th century and the Baroque style in the second half of the 17^th century. Today it is a training and technical school and is not open to the public.

The parish Church of St Peter and St Paul – a late Baroque church with empire interior and other structures (Calvary, chapel, parish house).

Borthers Křičeks’ Birth House – It houses a permanent exposition on the Křiček family, namely Jaroslav (a music composer), Petr (a poet) and Pavla (a writer).

Town Hall – It comes from the 17^th century. There is a Baroque statue of St John Nepomucenus in the square.