About the city
Olomouc is the sixth largest city in the Czech Republic. It is located 61 kilometers northeast of Brno and has a population of about 103 thousand. It is located in the flat region of the Upper Morava Valley, and is crossed by the Morava River and its tributary, the Mlýnský potok stream. The city was once the historical co-capital of Moravia.
Holy Trinity Column
The Holy Trinity Column (Sloup Nejsvětější Trojice) is a Baroque monument on the main square of the city, built in gratitude for the end of the plague in Moravia. Its main purpose was to celebrate the Catholic Church and faith. Only craftsmen from Olomouc worked on the monument, and its motifs are all related to the city. This monumental work is the largest Baroque sculpture group in the Czech Republic. The sculpture group is currently being restored, so except for the first photo in the pictures below, all others were taken by Leonhard Niederwimmer.
Astronomical Clock
The Olomouc Astronomical Clock (Olomoucký orloj) is located on the main square of the city, near the Holy Trinity Column. It was built in the 15th century, but has been remodeled several times, most recently in the socialist realism style. The upper dial of the heliocentric clock depicts the celestial sphere. It shows a star map, the Sun, the Earth and the planets against the background of the twelve houses of the zodiac. The lower dial depicts the terrestrial sphere. It also indicates the minute, hour, day and the phase of the moon. Below it, the calendar shows important days of the communist regime and Czech name days. The celebration of name days is a Christian tradition, originally connected with the celebration of saints. The main facade features various figures: a brass rooster, a miner, a factory worker, a car mechanic, a baker, a volleyball player and a clerk. The mosaic on the main facade depicts the Riding of the Kings and the procession of the maidens, a chemist holding a flask and a worker holding a wrench. There are sixteen bells and the carillon plays three folk songs.
Saint Wenceslas Cathedral
The Saint Wenceslas Cathedral (Katedrála svatého Václava), built in 1104–1107, is a Gothic cathedral on Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) in Olomouc. Both the square and the cathedral are named after Saint Wenceslas I (Svatý Václav), Duke of Bohemia. Due to its different construction phases, it is a combination of several styles, from Romanesque to Neo-Gothic Romanticism. Its structure consists of three towers. The southern tower, with a height of 100.65 meters (~330.2 feet), is the tallest in Moravia and the second tallest in the Czech Republic. This tower also houses the largest bell in Moravia (almost 8 tons). Its crypt has two floors, the upper floor of which is open to the public. Bishops and archbishops are buried on the lower floor.
Botanical Garden and Rosarium
The botanical garden is located in the city center next to the Mlýnský potok stream. Its 7.5-hectare area includes grassy undergrowth, forest flora, domestic shrubs and trees, and exotic plants. In its central part there are marsh water plants, low-growing bamboo, lilies, various bulbous plants, and a rose garden.
The 3.5-hectare rose garden is the second largest rose garden in the Czech Republic. The roses are cared for by professional gardeners. Most roses bloom in June. The Rosarium also provides the opportunity to organize events. It is a venue for corporate, charity and cultural events, children’s events and workshops. Weddings are often held here in this intimate, romantic and quiet environment.
Moravian Restaurant
The Moravian Restaurant (Moravská Restaurace) is located on the main square. The interior is elegant, quiet folk music is played and decorated with folk elements: wooden furniture, paintings, porcelain dercorations, embroidery, candlelight. Excellent traditional Czech food in an elegant setting with polite service.
Magic Cafe
When you enter the Magic Cafe (Kouzelná Kavárna) it feels like you have entered the world of Harry Potter. Floating candles on the ceiling, posters, owls, wizard chess corner, paintings of the four houses, photos of wizards, wizards’ robes and many other memorabilia from the Harry Potter books. The Harry Potter soundtrack plays softly. The design of the cafe’s menu is similar to the Marauder’s Map. They serve various cakes and non-alcoholic and alcoholic cocktails. The dry ice adds to the “magical” atmosphere.
I tried two alcoholic cocktails: Lord Vodkamort and Avada Tequila. The drinks and cakes also evoke a magical atmosphere. They are tasty, but also quite sweet. The service was fast and polite. Unfortunately, only cash is accepted. Since it is visited by many people, you need to book a table in advance, otherwise there is no guarantee that there will be a free table. In any case, it is worth visiting this café with its special atmosphere at least once.
“Creativity is an energy. It’s a precious energy, and it’s something to be protected. A lot of people take for granted that they’re a creative person, but I know from experience, feeling it in myself, it is a magic; it is an energy. And it can’t be taken for granted.”
– Ava DuVernay