Sightseeing in Kromeriz - what to see. Complete travel guide

Approximately twenty kilometers from Zlin lies the gorgeous Czech town of Kromeriz. In the past, this was the bishop’s residence town. Nowadays, Kromeriz is a peaceful and tranquil settlement that attracts tourists from all over the world with its beautiful castle and picturesque gardens. Not long ago, the government put the town under its protection and proclaimed it the most beautiful area in the Czech Republic. This land is rich in historical heritage that tourists will, without a doubt, be interested in exploring.

First inhabitants in the territory of modern Kromeriz appeared yet during the time of Great Moravia. However, the first mentions of this settlement in the official documents date back to 1110. The documents name Kromeriz a small village that Bruno von Schauenburg, the bishop of Olomouc, purchased. Thanks to a beneficial location at the crossing of important trading routes, the village officially became a town in the 60s of the 13th century. King Ottokar II of Bohemia made an order to change the status of the settlement.

Kromeriz supported the Hussites during the Hussite War. The town became a bishop’s property again only at the end of the 50s in the 15th century. Eleven years later, the war between Bohemia and Hungary started. Kromeriz became the epicenter of the bloody battles. Unfortunately, this caused much damage to the town. However, Kromeriz managed to become one of the leading centers of politics and culture in Moravia at the beginning of the 17th century. The Thirty Years’ War, which started soon after that, brought the Swedish army to the town. Once again, Kromeriz suffered much damage during the war. Bishop Karl II von Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn rebuilt the town. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Sv. Morice Kostel (St. Moritz Church) is one of the three main churches in Kromeriz. It is often recognized as the biggest Gothic architecture building in the Czech Republic. Bruno von Schauenburg, the bishop of Olomouc, was the founder of the church. For centuries, local people have considered him the founder of Kromeriz. The bishop’s tomb is located in this kostel. The St. Moritz Church was damaged several times during numerous battles, which took place in Kromeriz. However, it was carefully restored each time. Historians still argue about the original elements of the church and the details added during numerous restorations.

The kostel currently keeps multiple precious artifacts including the relics of Saint Vitus, Saint Morice who the bishop of Olomouc particularly praised during his life, and the relics of Saint Stephen. Monks, who work in the church, live not far from the main building of the shrine. The monks’ houses are located on the same square with the church and form a gorgeous Renaissance ensemble. The residence of bishop was in the yard. It had a passage connecting the residence with the church, so the bishop could comfortably reach the church for the divine service.

A giant castle that shares its name with the town remains one of the major landmarks of Kromeriz. Bishops and archbishops of Olomouc liked this building a lot, and so they made the majestic castle their residence. Kromeriz Castle was built in the 11th century. Initially, this was a gothic building, but the castle got traits typical for the Renaissance architecture later. The castle became even more comfortable to live in. The complex got new buildings connected to each other by multiple galleries.

A beautiful garden occupied the territory between the building and the bank of the Morava River. The garden had numerous flowerbeds, manmade ponds, and benches in silent parkways. Moreover, there were special pavilions that were suitable for various events. The garden has kept most of these elements, so it is incredibly pleasant to take a stroll here. All tourists are welcome to relax in the garden and admire its unforgettable beauty. Besides the fabulous garden, Kromeriz Castle has one more treasure – a large collection of paintings exhibited in the local gallery. The collection features the works of many talented Czech painters.

Do you want to learn about the history of Kromeriz? For this purpose, visit the Museum of Kromeriz that is open on Velke Square. This cultural landmark is conventionally divided into several parts. In the basement, visitors can learn more about the history of the town. Educational films on special screens and collections of archaeological findings provide visitors with information about the first prehistoric settlements that appeared in the territory of the modern town.

Visitors can also learn how different crafts were developing in the settlement and what treasures local pavements hide. The first floor of the museum is an art exhibition that illustrates how diverse the town and the country are. There is a separate hall dedicated to the flora and fauna of the Zlin region.

There is no way to get directly to Kromeriz at the moment. The easiest way to get here is to fly to Brno and then change to the bus that goes to Kromeriz. You will reach the town in just one hour. It is also possible to travel from Prague. In this case, tourists need to make a change in Olomouc, Zlin or Brno. Having reached one of these cities, simply get on a bus to Kromeriz.