Welcome to the official tourism website for Olomouc.
QUICK TIPS:
Information Centre
Horní náměstí (Upper Square)
Town Hall's archway
779 11 Olomouc
Opening hours: daily 9:00am –7:00pm
Tel.: (+420) 585 513 385, 392
E-mail: infocentrum@olomouc.eu
Map
Olomouc region Card
Olomouc Region Card is a tourist discount card that allows you to visit Olomouc significant savings. Its purchase to make sure you completely discounted or free admission.
City History
The earliest settlements
A pot of the Globular Amphora Culture, middle of the 3rd millenium BC, site Olomouc-Horní lán
(Archeologické centrum Olomouc).
The earliest settlement in what is now the city of Olomouc is evidenced by archeological findings from prehistoric times. The first traces of settlement in the city proper date back to the Old Stone Age (Paleolithic).
Stone tools found on the territory of Olomouc are estimated to be 10-40 thousand years old. Fertile soils in the surrounding area provided good conditions for settlement of farmers already in the Early Stone Age. Excavations have shown continuous settlement from the New Stone Age (4th millennium BC). Earlier archaeological discoveries include finds from a site of volute pottery culture (Early Neolithic, 6th millennium BC). The latest studies also demonstrate the presence of Celtic and Germanic tribes within the area of the city.
Perhaps the most important discovery in recent years, which will change the existing texts in history books, is the finding of the remains of a Roman marching camp from the second half of the 2nd century AD, i.e. from the time of Marcomannic Wars, in Olomouc - Neředín. The northernmost point of the Roman penetration on the territory of the then barbaric Central Europe behind the Danube has thus moved from Trenčín and Mušov to Olomouc. Great Moravian settlements have been excavated by archaeologists in Olomouc at several places. Findings from the Peter’s Hill have even showed a close relationship between the Olomouc settlement and Mikulčice - the centre of the Great Moravian Empire.
Trade routes played an important role in the development of the city. Location on the southern branch of the Eurasian trade road led to a rapid growth of economic and political importance from the mid-10th century. The choice of the first Moravian residence of the Czech rulers, after annexation of Moravia to the Přemyslid state, thus naturally fell on Olomouc.
