Okres Kroměříž – Gardens, History and Landscape

Okres Kroměříž combines impressive garden art, living history and varied landscapes. Here you can combine a cultural stay around Kroměříž with walks, regional wine traditions and excursions into the Hostýnské vrchy. When choosing your accommodation, it is therefore important to consider whether you mainly want to explore gardens and museums or also plan nature experiences and visits to smaller nearby towns.

Garden Art and History in Kroměříž

The ensemble in Kroměříž comprises the Archbishop's Palace, the Podzámecká zahrada and the Květná zahrada. The gardens and the palace form an early Baroque architectural ensemble; the pleasure garden also influenced Moravian garden design. In the Květná zahrada, French, Italian, Dutch and German garden models meet, with Versailles serving as an explicit source of inspiration. A central pavilion with a Foucault pendulum, colonnade, fountains, green labyrinths, greenhouses and Jahodové kopečky makes the grounds particularly rich in detail.

The Podzámecká zahrada is a 64-hectare English-style landscape park. Rare trees, waterways, ponds, original structures and a small zoo area define this part of the ensemble. In the city itself, you can also follow Trasa 1: Arcibiskupský zámek a zahrady: The circuit is 1.5 kilometres long and takes approximately 30 minutes without individual visits to the separate sites. Kroměříž also has short thematic walks through the city that can be completed without a guide and are designed for a wide range of visitors.

At the Muzeum Kroměřížska, an underground exhibition presents the cultural and historical development of Kroměříž from its origins to the early modern period. On the first floor of the Šachova synagoga, the Židé a Morava exhibition focuses on Jewish history in Moravia. In Holešov, the synagogue is the only synagogue of the Polish type preserved in its original form and is considered a unique example worldwide. Information panels in the Holešov castle garden also summarise its history.

Village Heritage and Regional Particularities

The Muzeum v přírodě Rymice combines seven buildings of East Haná folk architecture with a fortress and a farmstead. The village buildings document living and farming practices from the past two centuries and remain at their original locations. Rymice thus complements Kroměříž's urban culture with insights into rural life.

Another distinctive sight is Větrný mlýn Velké Těšany, a wooden windmill of the German type. It was designated a national cultural monument in 2014 and has been open to the public since 1979. The mill is divided into the levels podemlýní, mlýnice and zanáška, corresponding to the ground floor, first floor and second floor. Kroměříž also has a wine tradition dating back to the 13th century. Wine experiences are offered in palace cellars and wine shops.

Forests, Water and Trails

The Hostýnské vrchy are a Natura 2000 site of Community importance covering 2,396.5914 hectares. Preserved forests and unregulated streams provide refuge for rare animals and plants. The extensive forest biotopes serve, among other things, as nesting grounds for birds such as the black woodpecker. Those seeking landscapes as well as culture will find a distinctly different focus here from the gardens and museums of Kroměříž.

For a shorter excursion, Barbořina is a good choice: The summit lies at 265 metres and offers views over Kroměříž, the Hornomoravský úval and the Hostýnské vrchy. There is also the approximately 1-kilometre-long Naučná stezka veverky Čiperky nature trail. Chropyňský rybník features a pond with floating water chestnut and a species-rich bird population. These places complement the historic sights with nature observation and short trails.

The Hostýnská vyhlídka excursion route connects Kroměříž, Hulín, Rymice, Holešov, Brusné, Rusava, Svatý Hostýn and Bystřice pod Hostýnem. It can be combined with a return journey by train to Kroměříž. For a stay with a stronger focus on landscapes, you can also compare the region's smaller towns individually.

Other Places in Okres Kroměříž

For your regional accommodation and destination selection, you can also consider the following places: Bystrice Pod Hostynem, Roštění, Bořenovice, Žeranovice, Zahnašovice, Záříčí, Zástřizly, Věžky, Vítonice, Vrbka, Uhřice, Třebětice, Sulimov, Rymice, Prasklice, Pravčice, Rataje U Kroměříže, Podhradní Lhota, Počenice-Tetětice, Pacetluky, Nová Dědina, Osíčko, Němčice, Nítkovice, Morkovice-Slížany, Soběsuky, Lutopecny, Ludslavice, Lubná, Loukov, Kyselovice, Lechotice, Karolín, Hulín, Chvalnov-Lísky, Dřínov, Honětice, Horní Lapač, Cetechovice, Kvasice, Zlobice, Zborovice, Bařice-Velké Těšany, Střílky, Slavkov Pod Hostýnem, Skaštice, Šelešovice, Roštín, Rajnochovice, Prusinovice, Zdounky, Mrlínek, Míškovice, Pačlavice, Litenčice, Kostelec U Holešova, Kostelany, Jarohněvice, Holešov, Přílepy, Chvalčov, Chropyně, Chomýž, Břest, Blazice, Bezměrov, Kremsier, Střížovice, Hoštice, Martinice, Koryčany, Brusne, Troubky-Zdislavice and Rusava.

For the higher-level travel overview: Zlin.