Many Japanese tourists visiting the Czech Republic seem to stay only in Prague, the capital city. It is true that Prague has many attractions such as the Old Town, Charles Bridge, and Prague Castle. However, there are still many other attractive cities in the Czech Republic that are not well known! This is the third installment of my trip report. This time, we will introduce the fifth largest city in the Czech Republic, Olomouc, and its surrounding tourist attractions!
Olomouc, a city that makes you want to study Western history
Olomouc is located in the Moravian region of the eastern Czech Republic with a population of about 100,000. It is said that Olomouc has the second largest number of cultural assets after the capital Prague. As our local guide said, “There are churches everywhere,” and we saw many pointed towers here and there in the city. This time, we are touring Olomouc, a city of cultural assets, on foot and by streetcar.
The weather was unfortunate, with cold rain falling from the morning. Combined with the majestic architecture, Olomouc in my mind had the image of a “grim and somber European city. However, this is not a negative impression.
Even though I am not familiar with the origins of medieval Europe, I enjoyed it so much that I thought, “I don’t know what it is, but it’s amazing!” I enjoyed it so much that I decided to buy a comic book on the history of the world and study it after returning to Japan, so I highly recommend this town to anyone who is interested in European history, religion, architecture, etc. You can get to Olomouc by train from Prague in 2 to 2.5 hours.
The Church of Our Lady of the Snows, with its beautiful baroque style, has the oldest pipe organ in the Czech Republic. This time, we had a special opportunity to listen to the sound of the pipe organ. Mr. Quintz, the pipe organist, played the organ. We forgot about the cold and listened to the solemn sound echoing in the quiet church.
Villa Primaverge, built in 1906, was the residence of Moravian businessman Otto Primaverge and his wife, and part of the building is now open to the public as a gallery.
Mr. Primavage was a patron of artists and an investor in the Wiener Werkstätte, but the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 bankrupted him. The villa, which was decorated by architect Josef Hoffmann, painter Gustav Klimt, and others, seemed to testify to his wealth and connections with the artistic styles of the time.
A must-see during your visit to Olomouc is the Baroque-style “Pillar of the Holy Trinity,” a monument built to commemorate the end of the plague that ravaged Moravia in the 18th century.
The “Pillar of the End of the Plague,” which can also be found in Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary, is a symbol of Catholicism in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Holy Trinity Pillar in Olomouc is considered to be one of the best examples of this type, and was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
© Source travel watch