Welcome to the official tourism website for Olomouc.
QUICK TIPS:
Olomouc at the top
Three years, three excellent awards by the world’s prestigious guidebook. Lonely Planet made a list of the most beautiful, yet lesser known tourist destinations. It wasn’t the hot springs of Iceland, Gibraltar Rocks, Odysseus' Ithaca or Luxemburg that ranked in first place but the historical center of Olomouc!
The mini guidebook, Secret Europe, presents tourists with fifty cities from different parts of Europe. The largest, world-renowned guidebook publisher attracts tourists to Olomouc by saying that “in terms of tourism Olomouc can be equated to an authentic restaurant which is your own, small, personal secret. The Main Square is amongst the most enchanting in the country. It is surrounded by historical buildings. It is adorned by the Holy Trinity Column listed as the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Magnificent churches, many of which host an exciting history, are scattered in the streets of the historical center. Explore the foundations of the ancient Olomouc castle in the Archdiocese Museum which is a must-see and then set out to one of the many pubs or mini-breweries”. In 2012, the publisher also awarded Olomouc by ranking it in the top ten most beautiful hidden treasures in Europe. One year later it was once again on the list of the recommended destinations in Moravia. “It’s beautiful as well as surprising for us. Lonely Planet is to tourist guidebooks what Michelin is to gastronomy. I perceive it as a win in the tourist Olympics,” responded Olomouc mayor, Martin Major, when he first heard of the award. “I am very pleased that the professional editor-in-chief of this publication truly appreciates the beauty of our city, its picturesque atmosphere and its uniqueness.
Apart from other things, Olomouc captivated them by the fact that it offers the same architectural treasures as Prague but without the crowds of tourists. It is definitely Olomouc’s advantage in comparison with our capital. However, despite repeated acclaim from the renowned guidebook, it may only be temporary”, mentioned the mayor, Major, with a smile. The deputy mayor, Jan Holpuch added, “I believe that this is an opportunity to introduce our beautiful city to many other tourists.” “I think that being awarded as a hidden treasure or undiscovered city will give Olomouc an even stronger stamp of attractiveness and will evoke more interest in potential visitors.”
Olomouc has been trying to advertise its beauty in a high-quality and systematic way. In the past years, this attempt has proved effective. Statistically as well as simply looking into the streets of the city center confirms that the number of tourists to Olomouc has truly increased. Olomouc is on the list of destinations offered by travel agencies as for example, one-day trips from Prague or as a part of the Vienna – Krakow route. “Greater advertising in cooperation with the agency CzechTourism certainly helped.
This agency gives Olomouc more space than before”, says Karin Vykydalová, head of the tourism department. “Acclaim from Lonely Planet obviously helps. Ideally, a visitor comes here based on the recommendation, is satisfied here and then recommends Olomouc to his friends back home”, adds Dušan Gavenda of the same department. Lonely Planet Secret Europe can be downloaded for free at: www.lonelyplanet.com/secret-europe.
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: [email protected]
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.
![]() |
1017 | Moravia annexed to the Czech Přemyslid state, a new Olomouc Castle Castle built by the first Moravian appanage prince Břetislav |
![]() |
1055 | emergence of Olomouc appanage principality, the first mention of the Olomouc Castle, recorded in the Cosmas Chronicle |
![]() |
1063 | new Moravian Diocese founded by Prince Vratislav in Olomouc |
![]() |
1078 | the first monastery in Moravia (the Hradisko Monastery) founded by Prince Otto Sličný |
![]() |
1131 | consecration of the new Episcopal Church of St. Wenceslas by Bishop Jindřich Zdík |
![]() |
1239–1246 | presumed date of Olomouc obtaining the royal city status |
![]() |
1306 | King Wenceslas III., the last Přemyslid, was assassinated in the house of the Cathedral Dean |
![]() |
1352 | Olomouc identified as the capital of Moravia in a privilege issued by Margrave Jost |
![]() |
1469 | Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus was elected King of Bohemia – in the St.Wenceslas Cathedral |
![]() |
1573 | the College was raised to the status of a university, the second in the Czech lands |
![]() |
1620 | St. Jan Sarkander tortured to death in the town prison |
![]() |
1642–1650 | Olomouc occupied by Swedish troops led by Count Torstensson. |
![]() |
1655 | Olomouc declared a fortress town by Emperor Ferdinand III. |
![]() |
1709 | great fire destroyed 350 buildings and damaged interiors of several churches |
![]() |
1713–1715 | great plague |
![]() |
1741–1742 | Olomouc occupied by Prussian troops |
![]() |
1754 | ordination Holy Trinity Column |
![]() |
1758 | Olomouc fortress withstood siege Prussian troops |
![]() |
1762 | Maria Theresia confirmed the Olomouc privilege to use the title Royal Capital City |
![]() |
1767 | the eleven year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed Symphony No. 6 in F major in Olomouc |
![]() |
1770 | establishment of a permanent theater |
![]() |
1773 | banishment of the Jesuit order and the nationalization of the University |
![]() |
1777 | Diocese of Olomouc elevated to an Archdiocese |
![]() |
1794–1797 | French General J. P.Lafayette imprisoned in casemates of the Olomouc fortress |
![]() |
1841 | the first train arrives into town - Olomouc becomes a station of The North railway |
![]() |
1848 | a temporary relocation of the Imperial Court from Vienna to Olomouc, Emperor Franz Joseph I. elevated to the throne |
![]() |
1850–1866 | extension of fortifications, construction of forts around the city |
![]() |
1860 | abolition of the University |
![]() |
1919 | the so called „Greater Olomouc“ arose by absorbing 2 towns and 11 villages |
![]() |
15. 3. 1939 | Olomouc occupied by the German army |
![]() |
8. 5. 1945 | liberation of the city |
![]() |
1946 | restoration of the univerzity of Olomouc |
![]() |
1947–1955 | >the Olomouc Astronomical Clock was transformed by Karel Svolinský in the socialist realism style |
![]() |
1971 | Olomouc declared an urban conservation area |
![]() |
21. 5. 1995 | visit of Pope John Paul II. in Olomouc, canonization of St. Jan Sarkander and St. Zdislava in the St.Wenceslas Cathedral, the pilgrimage church on The Holy Hill elevated to Minor Basilica |
![]() |
2000 | the Holy Trinity Column was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List |