Hradec nad Moravicí between castle and landscape

Castle, park and special trails

Hradec nad Moravicí combines impressive architectural history with expansive landscapes and trails that connect culture and nature. At its heart is Hradec nad Moravicí Castle: developed from a Gothic Přemyslid fortress, it first became a Renaissance castle, then a Baroque castle and finally an Empire-style castle. The castle complex includes the White Castle, the White Tower and a gate at the Neo-Gothic Red Castle.

The main tour route leads through the reception rooms and the interiors of the princely apartments. This makes the castle’s eventful development visible not only in its buildings, but also in its representative interiors. The Church of St Peter and Paul provides another historical highlight. It dates from the 16th century and was consecrated in 1597. Its 37-metre-high tower carries three bells, considered the oldest in the Opava area.

Nature trails for different discoveries

If you would like to explore Hradec nad Moravicí on foot, the town nature trail offers a clearly structured route from the railway station via the state castle and the Stations of the Cross on Calvary Hill to the cemetery. It comprises 21 stations in total: 12 are in the town and nine in its local districts. The separate trail to the castle is considerably shorter at 277.9 metres and has four rest areas with wooden benches, litter bins and information boards. It operates year-round, is free of charge and can be reached on foot via several access points from the surrounding roads.

Forest, views and castle park

The castle park covers around 130 hectares and is one of the largest landscape parks in Silesia. Bezručova vyhlídka is its highest point and offers views of Opava and the river valley. The Bukový chodník also leads through quiet sections of woodland. Along the trail, views extend as far as Hanuše, Žimrovice and the distant horizon; at the same time, you can discover rare plants and animals.

There are also informative nature themes outside the castle park. The Za školou nature trail in Žimrovice provides information at eight stations about the geology, flora and fauna of the Meleček Valley. The Šance lookout tower stands at an elevation of 522 metres on the outskirts of Jakubčovice, a local district of Hradec nad Moravicí. From there, views extend across the Opava area, the Jeseníky Mountains and the Beskids. The lookout tower and the adjacent sunbathing area are freely accessible year-round.

Industrial history with regional flavour

From April to October, guided tours of the Weisshuhn Canal are offered in Hradec nad Moravicí. These tours include a tasting of what workers in the paper mills ate and drank. The combination of canal history and traditional workers’ fare adds an unusual local perspective to the castle and nature experiences.

Discover more destinations

More destinations: Velké Heraltice, Sudice, Zlatníky, Jilešovice, Filipovice, Píšť, Hlučín and Bělá.

To the higher-level travel overview: Opava District.