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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 the 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
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.
The
historic district is best explored on foot (it's relatively compact and parts
are closed to vehicular traffic).
Climb
the tower of the Old Town Hall for a panoramic view.
On
many nights, the fountains and Old Town Hall tower are lit.
Olomouc
has many cultural offerings including festivals and classical music
performances.
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).
Olomouc
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
 
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