Opavské Slezsko Area

The focal point of this region is the town of Opava, the one-time capital of the Opava Principality and later of all Silesia. The highlights of the town are the Concathedral of the Virgin Mary, often dubbed the white pearl of Silesia, and the municipal Hláska Tower. When exploring the Opava District be sure not to miss the idyllic chateaux in Hradec nad Moravicí, Raduň and Kravaře; at chateau parks around Kravaře and Šilheřovice you can even enjoy a round of golf.

This is a region where you can revel in natural beauty – forests and large plains are ideal for cycling trips or head to the arboretum at Nový Dvůr for more exotic shrubs. If you’re an admirer of folk architecture and old pieces of technical heritage, then make a beeline for the windmill in Hlavnice, at the foot of which a small open-air museum of rural timber structures has been created. To see folk customs close up, head for open-air museums in Bolatice or to the nearby windmill in Choltice. More modern pieces of functional architecture are represented by the military installations at Hlučín-Darkovičky, the Czechoslovak defensive line at Milostovice and the Weisshuhn Canal near Žimrovice.

Chateau at Hradec nad Moravicí – The gateway to the picturesque valley of the Moravice River, this romantic setting includes the Empire White Chateau, the neo-Gothic Red Chateau and the White Tower. The Red Chateau, inspired by the buildings of medieval Germany, houses a hotel and a restaurant. The chateau is set in a large English park, through which runs the 6km-long Lichnovský Hunting Trail.

Raduň Chateau – At this Empire pile set in an English park you can tour the former private chambers of the Blücher family and the chateau library. Other interesting features are the Empire sheep fold, the orangery and the Renaissance granaries.

Kravaře Chateau – This Silesian Baroque gem incorporates the Chapel of the Archangel Michael with its huge ceiling fresco by F. I. Eckstein and a small exhibition on the town and surrounding area. The chateau is set in a large landscaped park which includes a golf course.

Czechoslovak Defensive Line at Hlučín-Darkovičky – This large complex near the villages of Darkovičky and Hať includes the Alej hut, restored to its original 1938 state, and other buildings containing period equipment.