The City of Olomouc and Its Surroundings

The Upper Square and the Town hall

The Upper Square, historically the first town market, was built in the first half of the 13th century. When in 1378 a marketplace with a town hall was built, its trade significance increased.

The town hall is a four-wing building with neo-Gothic facade. It was reconstructed throughout all centuries. The town hall is decorated by a Renaissance portal with two-flight stairs and a loggia situated in the eastern part. The Chapel of St. Jerome with valuable Gothic oriel can be found in the southern wing. The building also boasts an astronomical clock whose current design decorated by Karel Svolinský is from 1955. Another landmark is the Holy Trinity Column that thanks to its art and historical value was inscribed in the UNESCO List of Cultural Heritage in 2000. A group of six baroque fountains is also a unique sight of the city. In 2002 a new fountain – Arion Fountain – was added to the group. The fountain was built by sculptor and Olomouc's native Ivan Theimer together with Tuscany architect Angela Chiantel.

Basilica Minor Church of Visitation of Virgin Mary - Svatý Kopeček

The foundations of the church were built in 1669 in the place of a chapel pulled down by Swedes in 1632.

When the pilgrim church was visited by the pope John Paul II in May 1995, it was declared a basilica minor.

A beautiful Zoo can be found close nearby the church on Svatý Kopeček (Holy Hill).

The dominant feature of Olomouc is the St. Wenceslas' Cathedral. After it had burnt down a former Romanesque building from 1131 was reconstructed in 1266 in Gothic style. Its current design is from the period 1883-1893. The main spire of the archbishop cathedral is the highest in Moravia and measures 100.65 meters.

Among other sites in Olomouc are Romanesque Palace, Church of Saint Maurice, Church of Saint Michael, Church of Virgin Mary of the Snow, as well as an extensive Baroque area called the Haná Escorial – Hradisko Monastery.