Olomouc

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

Olomouc tips and insights
Pronunciation
Olomouc: OHL-lue-mootz

Upper Square is Olomouc's top attraction
It's the historic and tourism heart of the city. The five major tourism draws:

• 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.

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.

A few other Olomouc pointers
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.

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

Accommodations
The town has dozens of hotels and pensions. The two best are the Alley (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.