LYSÁ HORA - QUEEN OF THE MORAVIAN-SILESIAN BESKDYY	THE RECREATIONAL AREA OF OLEŠNÁ
THE CITY OF KOPŘIVNICE	THE RECREATIONAL AREA OF ČELADNÁ
THE VILLAGE OF KOZLOVICE	THE RECREATIONAL AREA OF BÍLÁ
PUSTEVNY	THE CITY OF FRÝDEK-MÍSTEK
THE SUBMONTANE TOWN OF ŠTRAMBERK	THE RUINS OF HUKVALDY CASTLE

LYSÁ HORA - QUEEN OF THE MORAVIAN-SILESIAN BESKDY

The Beskydy Mountains present a picturesque view in every season of the year and are known for a unique beauty found nowhere else. There are quiet little corners stashed away between the mountains and enchanting views of faraway regions that will take your breath away. And all of this is dominated by Lysá hora, the queen, and few people would think of leaving our region without first making a trip to the top of it. The top of Lysá hora is currently home to a television transmitter, cottage for the mountain service, and weather station. You can find accommodations at the Lysá hora ski cottage or at the Kameňák hostel. Dining is available at the Lysá hora cottage or the Šantán buffet.
At a height of 1,323 m above sea level, Lysá hora truly offers some unforgettable views. During nice weather you can see the mountain ranges of Malá and Velká Fatra, Martinské hole, High, Belian and West Tatra, and also Jeseníky.

Cycling to Lysá hora is demanding and requires physical preparation. The best way is to take the asphalt road from Papežov. It must be taken into account, however, that ordinary vehicles are banned from entering this road, meaning even bikes, and during the descent a maximum speed of 40 km/hour must be maintained throughout the entitě length of the road, and that the cyclist can encounter cars or buses that have permission to use the road. An off-road trail leads from Frýdlant nad Ostravicí to Malenovice, around Jízdárna, Malenovický kotel to Ivančena, through Zimný and then along the asphalt road that leads to the top of Lysá hora. The total distance is 22 km. In 2006 the Lysá hora nature trail was opened by the Beskydy National Park Administration, Lesy ČR s. p. and the communities of Ostravice and Malenovice. The trail introduces visitors to the natural and scientific wonders of the highest mountain in the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy, long one of the most visited places in the Beskydy. The Lysá hora nature trail is 16.5 km long with 15 stops and two information boards at the top of the hydrometeorological station. You can travel along it from two locations ? from the train station in Ostravice and from the parking lot of Rajská bouda in Malenovice. Both branches link up on the Lukšinec Ridge and from there the trail continues on to the top. That?s why if you want to do every stop, you should plan your trip from one village up to the top and then down to the other.
The highest peak in the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy, Lysá hora, can be reached on skis from many directions. The trail most often used starts in the parking lot in Krásná - Papežov.

If you want to try skiing on Lysá hora, you have to first complete the demanding climb to the top. For those with limited physical strength or who prefer to save their energy, a tractor or snowmobile can be hired to take them up. Then you can experience the atmosphere of skiing that doesn?t exist anywhere else in the Beskydy. Skiing on Lysá hora, thanks to its height, offers the most incredible views and is in service for nearly half the year, from November to April. A ski slope of the type BLV can be found on the peak itself. The length of the course is 360 m with a total drop of 50 m and difficulty level ranging from blue to red. The slope is usually running on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9:00-16:00, Mondays-Fridays by reservation. The slopes are smoothed with equipment.

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THE CITY OF KOPŘIVNICE

During your visit to our region, make sure you don?t miss the Regional Museum in Kopřivnice. At present the museum offers four permanent expositions consisting of the Tatra Museum of Engineering, Lachian Museum, Fojtství Museum and the Exposition of Emil and Dana Zátopek (in the Museum of Engineering).

At the Museum of Engineering you can see sixty cars and trucks that were once celebrated just like the phenomenal TATRA automobile factory. The collection includes chassis, motors, models, designs, trophies from tournaments, period photography and other rarities. Lots of interesting and exhaustive information is provided by the multi-language video boxes with film clips of automotive treasures.

Exposition of Emil and Dana Zátopek You certainly won?t find anybody here who doesn?t know the name of the athlete who for more than 10 years electrified the whole world with his great accomplishments in running and who defeated one competitor after another. Today Emil Zátopek (1922-2000) remains one of the most celebrated Czech athletes and the Museum of Engineering has devoted space for a major exposition on the Olympic winner and his wife Dana (born 1922), a javelin thrower who also successfully represented our small country. The exposition was ceremoniously opened on 17 September 2005 in the presence of Dana Zátopková herself.

In addition to information about the successes achieved by the Zátopek couple, the very modern concept of the exposition offers you a look at authentic photographs, medals, trophies, plaques, commemorative items, Zátopek?s team jacket and his starting number from the legendary Olympic Games in London, as well as various personal items belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Zátopek. The exposition also includes a documentary film produced in cooperation with Finnish TV, cut to a length of 14 minutes and 6 seconds, exactly the time it took for the greatest runner of his age to achieve a world record in the 5,000 m race. You?re welcome to look and experience the thrill of victory.

Lachian Museum forms another part of the Regional Museum in Kopřivnice. The mansion of the Šustala family has been located in the city park near the train station since 1889. The original inhabitant of the house was the son of the founder of a celebrated coach-making facility, Josef Šustala. The museum?s exposition is devoted to a former factory in Kopřivnice where earthenware products were produced. An incredible amount of ceramic products were produced during the 150 years of the factory?s existence. You will find here various decorated plates, cups, bowls and tiles, as well as unusually shaped and colored regular tiles and stove tiles. You will be absolutely amazed by other parts of the exposition, permeated by an exotic and adventurous atmosphere. Works created by locally-born Zdeňěk Burian are accompanied by DVD films cut from shots of paintings and supplemented by prehistoric, fossilized organisms, minerals and excavations.

Fojtství Museum is the family home of the founder of a coach and buggy factory in Kopřivnice, Ignác Šustala, which he started here in 1850. At present his manor house (fojtství) serves as a museum for learning and exhibition purposes. It offers you a look at the life of the people at that time, acquaints you with their customs and traditions. The largest room on the ground floor (the former taproom of the manor) contains a permanent exposition devoted to Ignác Šustala and the beginnings of the future TATRA automobile factory. A costume typical of Moravian folklore is on exhibit in the former kitchen. The third room has been set up to resemble a typical homestead room.

If you have the time and desire to learn more and plan to visit our region during winter months, the Podhoráček road train will take you up to the picturesque city of Štramberk. The circular route starts at the hotel Tatra in Kopřivnice, continues around the manor house museum on its way up to Štramberk, then returns to Kopřivnice around Bílá hora (White Mountain).

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THE SUBMONTANE TOWN OF ŠTRAMBERK

The Moravian Bethlehem as Štramberk has been dubbed lies in the center of the Štramberk highlands along the slopes of Zámecký kopec (Castle Hill), Kotouč, Bílá hora (White Mountain) and the Libotín Ridge in the Beskydy range.

The town and its wide surroundings are dominated by the Štramberk Trúba (?Tube?), the ruins of the 13th century Gothic castle of Strallenberg, of which the remains consist entirely of the tube-shaped tower with ramparts.

But Štramberk will also enchant you with its winding, narrow streets lined with scores of burgher houses, usually made out of wood or mostly wood and built along tight medieval lots. The minute you reach Štramberk Square, you feel as if you?re in another world. The entire square is dominated by 22 houses in the baroque, burgher and pensione style. The beauty of the city is topped off by several statues, authentic wells with windlasses, side houses with access balconies and treasured gabled roofs.

Visitors to the city should not forget to hike up to the lookout point on nearby White Mountain, nor forgo a look at the famous Šipka Cave above Štramberk National Park, where a hearth and part of the jawbone of a Neanderthal child, the so-called Neanderthal jawbone, were found in 1880. Last but not least, you simply cannot skip a visit to the new arboreta and botanical gardens at the foot of White Mountain.

Štramberk is also famous for a sweet-smelling, funnel-shaped gingerbread cookie called the Štramberk Ear, which has been baked here for many centuries following the legendary victory of the Štramberk Christian forces over the Mongol host on 8 May 1241. Inside the coffee shop known as Perníkovka (?Gingerbread Place?) you can browse through an exposition on the secrets of making gingerbread, the Štramberk Ear and other sweet products. Both young and old alike will be dazzled by the collection of antique wooden and copper gingerbread forms, the tongs used to handle the wafers, and other niceties that go into making gingerbread delights.

After your excursion to this picturesque little town you can avail yourself to the local brewery to try a light, unfiltered lager prepared in the double-mash style, and dark, unfiltered lager called Trubač.

And if you prefer to try beer in another way, visit the Lachian Beer Baths at house no. 7 on Štramberk Square. Here you can enjoy the refreshing harmony of all the cleansing procedures made available to you in comfortable surroundings.

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PUSTEVNY

Pustevny is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Beskydy, lying between Radhošť and Tanečnice peaks at 1,018 meters above sea level. It takes its name from the hermits who came here to live, the last of which died in 1874. Wooden houses built in the style of folk architecture are characteristic for Pustevny. In 1891 the Radhošť Mountain Club opened a lodge here called Poustevně. Several years later saw the addition of several other buildings, those being Šumná, Maměnka and Libušín. Well-known architect Dušan Jurkovič designed these cabin-like structures in the secession style with an abundance of stylized embellishments. Included among the wooden structures is a century-old Wallachian bell tower with colorful ornaments and also designed by Dušan Jurkovič.

Pustevny forms a major crossroads for tourist trails. You can get to the top either by chairlift from Trojanovice or else by the road that leads from Prostřední Bečva. From Pusteveny you can head east and reach the only mountain lake in the Beskydy at Čertův mlýn (?Devil?s Mill?) at 1,207 m above sea level. According to legend, this mountain was named after a mill built by the devil at a fifty-meter long channel that ran along the peak. This attraction of nature illustrates the breaking force and movement of godul sandstone blocks.

If you head west, the nature trail will take you by the statue of Radegast, the god of hospitality, fertility and harvests on the peak of Radhošť (1,129 m), which offers you an incredible view of the surroundings. Further along on Radhošť stands a statue of Cyril and Methodius at the Chapel of Cyril and Methodius. The statue is facing away from the chapel in order to greet arriving visitors.

There are lots of things to bring you up here during the summer months. You can rent mountain scooters and bikes; you can even try Nordic walking.

But life on Pustevny isn?t idle in wintertime either. There are many popular ski centers here offering 11 lifts and 9 slopes and scores of kilometers of cross-country trails. A ski park has been set up for children with a 30 m long sliding carpet, while adults can put on ski shoes and check out places normally impossible to reach in winter. The entire area is lighted, so you can make your trek even during nighttime. If you would like to try another type of adrenaline sports, you can borrow a pair of snowblades and have a go at something you will never experience otherwise on normal skis!

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THE VILLAGE OF KOZLOVICE

The village of Kozlovice lies at the foot of the Beskydy along the route between Frýdek-Místek and Frenštát p.R. and has something to offer its visitors.

Your visit to Kozlovice can start at house number 1. Here you will find the site of the former manor and local school. You will discover the world of the minor Wallachian nobility who dwelt here and lorded over the area. The recently reconstructed site contains several expositions with the availability of guide services.

In the left wing of the building you will find an exposition on the schoolhouse of that period complete with the office and flat of the headmaster. But it?s not simply a museum in the traditional sense of the word, rather a ?living exposition? that offers you an illustrative look at the way school was taught at the end of the 19th century.

A smaller exposition has been set up in the mezzanine section of the building devoted to the relationship of composer Leoš Janáček, born in nearby Hukvaldy, to this Wallachian hamlet. He himself was responsible for the performance given by Wallachs from Kozlovice at the Czechoslovak Ethnographic Exhibition in Prague in 1895.

An exposition on sacral art has been prepared in the attic spaces. The exposition celebrates the treasures left behind by our ancestors, a wealth of traditions and history and representing their reverence for God.

The manor site also includes farm buildings later used for building a Wallachian brewery. The basic features of the interior offer an original brick-vaulted ceiling and components made out of stone and wood. The background of the restaurant is enriched with a colorful collection of historical beer mugs. On the walls you will find original shares issued by the brewery, the beer labels of that time for our best-known breweries and even certificates of apprenticeship for brew masters going back to the 18th century. The brewer?s guild keeps a watchful eye on the quality of the local brew.

Your experience at the restaurant is made complete by staff decked out in apparel based on local folk traditions. You can try here traditional Czech and Moravian cuisine or even goat cheese. To go with your excellent meal you can order homemade, unfiltered yeast beer: the light Wallachian Duke or dark Kozlovician Baliff. The beer can be a bit cloudy but that?s because it contains lots of nutrients and substances good for your health.

For your excursion around Kozlovice, take the first Kozlovice carriage. Treat yourself to an extraordinary experience enjoyed by children and adults alike and take a horse and carriage to the site of Na mlýně (?At the mill?) and back, the operation of which starts in June for the duration of the summer season, every Saturday and on Sundays during agreeable weather.

Another great place to visit in Kozlovice is the site of At the Mill. This is a rarity you will see nowhere else in this area, a site dominated by a recently reconstructed mill with a 250 m long mill race and including completely functional milling equipment. The site is also home to the Kozlovice open-air museum with similarly picturesque historical wooden buildings with collections of craftsman tools. The local restaurant whets your appetite with trout freshly caught from the mill race, specialties handed down by the miller?s wife and common to this region, and pastas and salads.

If you feel like revisiting your childhood dreams, then take a trip on the Podhoráček road train. During the summer months the train will shuttle you from At the Mill back to the area around the manor house or you can continue your excursion around the countryside. Another stop is the village of Hukvaldy, famous as the birthplace of Leoš Janáček, the Clever Vixen, and last but not least the ruins of the local castle. Come have a look with us!

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THE RUINS OF HUKVALDY CASTLE

The village of Hukvaldy is the last Lachian village on the border of Wallachia-Lachia in the Beskydy foothills. It gets its name, according to legend, from great numbers of wood fairies known as ?hukalkies? that roamed around the deep forests in ancient times. More likely it comes from a garbled version of the name of the German Count of Hückeswagen, who built the castle in the middle of the 13th century.

The ruins of Hukvaldy Castle sprawl all about the hill above the village. First mention of the castle dates back to 1285; its beginnings even further back to the middle of the 13th century when it and the village were founded by the Hückeswagen clan. During the 14th century the castle came under the proprietorship of the Bishop of Olomouc, who was forced, due to financial reasons, to mortgage the castle, and it thereafter changed owners often until the bishopric regained ownership of the castle during the 16th century. It remained the sole owner until it was nationalized in 1948.

The castle was left in ruins after it was abandoned during the 20th century. Its decrepit state started in 1762 when a destructive fire broke out following a lightning strike on the wooden administrative building in the main courtyard. The castle then fell into ruins and not until the 19th century did at least the most necessary reconstruction take place. Hukvaldy was already being written about during this time as a romantic ruin and destination for many excursions, a situation which continues to this day.

Hukvaldy is an important cultural landmark and every year various events are staged here like the Knights Pageantry, Meeting of Spirits, and many others. The summertime amphitheater, which is part of the castle and has excellent acoustics, regularly hosts the international music festival Janáček Hukvaldy. And why Janáček? Because it was here in 1854 that world-famous composer Leoš Janáček was born. The statue of a fox stands in the Hukvaldy game park as a memorial to his celebrated opera The Cunning Little Vixen. Walks through the castle?s ancient nature reserve soothe the spirit and are pleasing to the eye, particularly during autumn. Moufflon and fallow deer can be spotted between the rows of oak, chestnut and linden trees.

At the beginning of the 20th century Leoš Janáček bought a house here that today serves as the home for the Memorial to the life and work of Leoš Janáček. In the historic part of the home, on the ground floor, you will find three rooms. The original interior of the house has been preserved here, including furnishings from the time when Janáček used the place. You can tour through the drawing room, bedroom and kitchen. An educational exposition has been established on the first floor. Visitors here can listen to a recording of Janáček?s works or watch films with music about the composer?s life and works. He drew motifs for his operas from Hukvaldy, and he captured the atmosphere of the region in his choral works composed to the poetry of Petr Bezruč.

If you would like to have a look at the birthplace of Leoš Janáček, you?ll find it on the left above the Baroque church of St. Maximilian. An information center occupies the premises. The neighboring Hukvaldy Gallery contains an exhibition of the works of contemporary artists inspired by more than just this region.

Hukvaldy also offers you a look inside the Museum of Tin, where tin artifacts created by craftsmen from home and abroad in the 18th and 19th centuries are on display, from ordinary items for daily living (bowls, plates, kettles, candlesticks, and bottles for transporting beer and wine) to religious items. Altogether they number about 200 tin objects.

If you?re really curious and happen to appreciate butterflies and beetles, we recommend you visit the EXOTIC Gallery of Butterflies and Beetles. You will find all kinds of interesting information about the insect kingdom and singular specimens of butterflies and beetles. Everything is accompanied by expert presentation.

In the Dolní Sklenov section of Hukvaldy you can get a healthy supply of vitamin B at the family-run brewery that uses single-mash technology to brew yeast beer.

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THE RECREATIONAL AREA OF ČELADNÁ

A place where you can find beautiful wilderness untouched by man is Čeladná. The village lies in the valley of the Čeladenka River not far from the city of Frýdlant n.O. Come spend not only your holidays here, but also enjoy a truly relaxing experience.

In recent years the Beskydy have become a paradise for golfers. The golf courses in Čeladná cover 140 ha and offer two championship 18-hole courses with clubhouse, superb facilities for golfers and a stylistic restaurant. A hotel built in the Alpine style rounds off the pleasant atmosphere in the foothills of the Beskydy range.

Located next to the golf area is a riding school for recreational horseback riding in the Western style. While parents perfect their golf swings, children can visit the riding school for beginners and advanced students in any riding style. A program geared for vacation or just a weekend is available here, and students can look after the horses under the watchful eye of instructors.

The name of the ?Wallachian nightingale? ? teacher and poet Josef Kalus ? is linked to the community of Čeladná. The original school where he was a teacher has now been designated as a memorial to Josef Kalus. You will learn a lot here about his life and work and see a permanent exposition on nature in the history of the community. Seasonable exhibitions on the works of contemporary artists, craftsmen, collectors and others are regularly organized here.

It?s not just famous athletes and actors who come to the Beskydy Rehabilitation Center but also ordinary people from throughout Bohemia and Moravia. This therapeutic center was founded in 1902 by the celebrated Dr. Jan May. The Skalka Spa at that time was named after the highest peak in the Ondřejnik massif and served as a health sanatorium for coal miners from Ostrava. The many advantages of the spa include its location in a wooded park with excellent climactic conditions, the Ferdinand spring, and a huge offering of balneological and therapeutic cures.

Also worth a visit here is the Polarium, where your entire body temperature is subjected to - 120° C. It became the first of its type in the Czech Republic when it went into operation in Čeladná in 2004.

The wellness center in the Lara apartment building is intended not just for patients at the spa. You can visit the swimming pool with massage jets, countercurrent and water spout equipment, aroma sauna, steam sauna, tepidarium, salt cave, fitness center, and try any number of massages ? classical, honey and lava rock.

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THE RECREATIONAL AREA OF BÍLÁ

Lying along the Czechoslovakian border is the village of Bílá, a word heard often among skiers during the winter season.The ski region of Bílá ? Beskydy includes two ski resorts: Bílá and Mezivodí.The Bílá ski resort is one of the largest in the Beskydy, with two slopes facing each other. The more than 5 km of slopes are cared for every day by the most modern equipment and artificial snow machines. Parts of them are even illuminated to allow for some good quality skiing during evening hours. A four-seat chairlift and another four lifts work to keep the flow of skiers ever moving. For snowboarders, a snowboard park with jumps and obstacles has been established in the southern portion of the resort. But neither do children come up short here. A TOP children?s ski park with rope lift, moving carpet and Rotondo carousel has been prepared for them. The resort is fully stocked with quality facilities for dining and accommodation, renting equipment and ski service.

Three circular tracks of 6, 20 and 33 km have been established for cross-country skiers. If you would like to try something more, excursions are available for you on snow shoes. You can finish your excursion in high style with a glass of mulled wine and sausages served in a proper Indian tepee. And if all that weren?t enough, you can rent a pair of snow blades. They are something like short skis and allow you to try parts of the slope where normal skis are not allowed. The second ski resort ? Mezivodí ? can be found a few kilometers away. Four ski lifts, one of which is intended for children, have been built on the site. The slopes are likewise illuminated and covered with artificial snow. Skiers here will find a ski school, ski and snowboard rental, and the Ledovec (Glacier) restaurant available to them.

The village of Bílá is about more than just winter. The Bílá ski resort offers various activities even during the summer months. You can try archery here, practice on the trampoline or ride a mountain scooter down the slope. You need not, however, push the scooter back up the hill, not with the four-seat Zbojník (Bandit) chairlift operating from June to September.

Bílá also contains several places of interest. The wooden church of St. Bedřich was built during the 1870s at the instigation of the cardinal of Olomouc, Fridrich Landrát. The architecture of the church goes beyond the ordinary shapes of other churches in the Beskydy region as its builder, Antonín Kybast, looked for his inspiration in Sweden. Inside the church you can admire fourteen columns that have been beautifully carved and the light enters here through fourteen windows, with color adornments that represent individual phases of the cross of the way. In 1906 the archbishop?s château was built not far from the church. The exterior of the Lovecky château is protected by shingles and has kept its original look today.

On the border between Horní Bečva and Bílá stands the chapel of St. Cyril and Methodius. The structure pays homage to architect Dušan Jurkovič. As with his other works, he combines here classical elements of Beskydy folk architecture with those of disappearing secession art and ornamental elements with color contrast in several details. The chapel of St. Cyril and Methodius is also enhanced by the lovely glass-pane detail of the rear window that shows the two missionaries.

If you would like to take a trip back 280 years in time, have a look at the Salajka pod Bumbálkou National Wilderness Reservation. The primeval forest is made up of what remains of a very rare forest of fir and oak. One legendary fir tree here was the so-called Fat Tonka, which was about 350 years old, had a girth of 527 cm and total wood volume of 40 m3. This forest offers a good look at the type of forests that covered most of the Beskydy in the past.

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THE CITY OF FRÝDEK ? MÍSTEK

This city on the confluence of the Ostravice and Morávka rivers actually consists of two separate cities ? Moravian Místek and Silesian Frýdek. Místek is the older of the two, first mentioned in 1267, while Frýdek came about around 1333-34. In the 15th and 16th centuries both cities were part of the Těšín principality, with Místek at that time being dependent on the economically stronger Frýdek. Not until the city broke away from Těšín and became part of the Hukvaldy domains of the Olomouc bishops in 1584 did Místek gain a measure of economic privileges and began to prosper. The flowering of both cities was interrupted by the Thirty Years War, then by plague and several fires. Both cities began to grow again in the 18th and 19th centuries, with Frýdek becoming a center of textile manufacturing and, thanks to its location, commerce. Craftsmanship started to prosper in Místek and the first factories were founded there. Cultural and national aspects had better prospects in Místek, where organizations like educational trust and fellowships were formed. The merger of the cities into one under the name of Frýdek occurred in 1943 as an administrative detail under the Nazi occupation. Discussions about the name of the twin cities led to the Ministry of the Interior declaring that on 1 January 1955 the official name was to be Frýdek-Místek. Another important date for Frýdek-Místek occurred on 1 June 2006 when the city was declared a district seat.

The squares of both Místek and Frýdek are among the landmark attractions of the city. Místek?s Freedom Square is among the most picturesque parts of the city, full of houses built in the late Renaissance style, rebuilt and modified to form its historic core. The ambulatory still remains on the southern and portions of the northern side of the square. In the middle stands a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Today the square in Frýdek is no longer the center of activity in the city, although quite the opposite was true in the past. Most of the buildings have a Renaissance core, with many of them having undergone empire and classical modifications. The oldest and most significant house is the late Renaissance home built by the Frýdek councilman and royal governor Samuel Wolf in 1660. The Frýdek Castle not only dominates the square but the entire city of Frýdek-Místek as well.

The Frýdek Castle was originally a Gothic castle built in the mid-14th century, modified during the years 1528-1545 and finally rebuilt in the Baroque style near the end of the 17th century. It was built on a protective knoll on a boundary overlooking the trade route running from Moravia to Poland. In 1688 the castle and the entire city was damaged by fire. Modern repairs at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries are noticeable in the outer look of the castle. The oldest section we can find in the location of today?s entrance wing to the interior of the building. A Knights Hall was built on the first floor of the northern wing, in which a collection of 15 crests have been preserved belonging to the city of Těšín and the leading Silesian noblemen of that time. The castle also includes a landscaped nature park established in the 19th century. It contains a Baroque statue of St. Florian made in 1730 and one of St. Joseph Pěstoun in 1772. Since the 1960s the castle has been the home of the Museum of the Beskydy, where it oversees a natural science collection from the regions of the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy and the Beskydy foothills focusing on botany, mycology, zoology and geology. The permanent expositions on display offer interesting facts about life in the Beskydy, the history of Frýdek-Místek, a look at Frýdek as a pilgrimage point, and furthermore the life and work of poet and translator Óndra Lysohorský. Individual exhibitions and lectures on a variety of topics are held within the spaces of the museum.

The major landmarks of Frýdek include Hluboká Street, site of a single-story house in the classical style built in 1796, with the relief of St. Florian on the ground floor and one of the Madonna with child on the first floor. Until the 1980s houses half made out of wood built at the end of the 18th century were surviving examples of village architecture in the small town. The grandfather of Leoš Janáček lived in one of them. Other places of interest include the Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary on Marián Square with the characteristic twin towers in the front, built in the late Baroque style and completed in 1777. In 1901 a savings bank was built with a secession interior design by Viennese architect Hassmann. At present it houses the city magistrate and a stylistic coffee shop.

Even Místek has its own history and you will find lots of landmarks here. At the former post office on Old Post Office Street, postal clerk Vladimír Vašek, better known as the poet Petr Bezruč, worked here from 1891-93. A memorial plaque honoring his service was unveiled in 1933. One major building in Místek is National House, a representational structure with a distinctly adorned façade and retaining its original interior. Today National House hosts cultural and social events. The former National Savings Bank of Místek is directly connected to National House. Franta Úprka made the four figures in folk costumes that adorn the front of the building. City Hall and Savings Bank on Main Street were built according to a design by Viennese architect Josef Hudetz. Today it is the home of the Basic Arts School. Also worth mentioning is the parish church of St. John and Paul on Janáček Street, built between 1763-7. The premises of the church are surrounded by a wall with chapel alcoves of the cross of the way and pillared gates. Today only the right side with six chapels remains. Other sacral constructions of interest are the church of St. Jacob the Greater at the parish church and the church of All Saints on Frýdlant Street.

If you would like to know more about places of interest and the history of Frýdek-Místek, the Frýdek-Místek Beskydy Information Center has prepared Guided Days for you to take place twice a year, a good reason to check out our website www.beskydy.com time to time.

Frýdek-Místek is not just history and monuments, however. It offers a cycle of musical and cultural events throughout the summer called Beskydy Happy Summer, including the International Folk Festival, Western in Frýdek, Jazz in the City, Beskydy Records, Frýdek Festival, and many others.

The city also offers a wide range of sporting activities. For a bit of movement and relaxation head to the nearby aquapark in Olešná, which offers a host of indoor and outdoor attractions. If you are a cycling enthusiast, a marked circular trail around Frýdek-Místek and nearby surroundings is ready for you. For younger enthusiasts a skatepark has been built under the bridge near the sports hall. The city also provides opportunities for horseback riding and many other sporting activities, especially in fitness centers and sporting venues.

Those tourists who like to collect stamps can buy the following in the Beskydy Information Center in Frýdek and in Místek: Frýdek Castle no. 0653 and Kabátic lookout point no. 1472, a 23 m high iron observation tower on the edge of Frýdek-Místek. A new tourist stamp was recently issued, no. 1512, of the spring and chapel in Hájek, which is a popular pilgrimage destination with a well, located in the city district of Lískovec. Superstition has it that the water from the well has a miraculous quality and can restore health. The spring also fulfills strict hygienic norms. That?s why you should come and try this ?holy water? and see for yourself if it really is miraculous stuff!

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THE RECREATIONAL AREA OF OLEŠNÁ

In-line skaters, children jumping about on a trampoline, people swimming in the aquapark and fishing on the banks; the ideal place for recreation and sport, not just for the people of Frýdek-Místek and surroundings, but for visitors to the region as well. This is the recreational zone of Olešná, located approximately 3 km from the center of Frýdek-Místek and named after the local dam.

Olešná is mostly famous on account of its aquapark. The park is situated in the ideal surroundings of Olešná Dam with a panoramic view of the Beskydy Mountains and Lysá hora. In 2005 a summertime aquapark with swimming pool, relaxation pools and other attractions was built here. An indoor part was added a year later. You will certainly be thrilled by the wide range of adrenaline amusements like the 10 m high and 90 m long giant toboggan slide, a 23 m long wild river and many other attractions. And there is plenty for the little ones as well. A separate, stainless steel pool reserved for children comes with many attractions ? bell, hedgehog, waterjet from the rhinoceros Bubu, and a mast that gives the illusion of a ship. If you?d like to take a break from the water, you can avail yourself to a massage, the solarium, steam spa or other types of sauna.

There?s a 1.5 km long track with asphalt surface for cyclists, tourists on foot and in-line skaters. Once completed, the entire circular track will cover 3 km. For cyclists, the track also connects to the Palkovická ? Olešná route. Olešná Lake itself draws not only fishermen but also those who love to surf and go yachting. Near Olešná you will find various types of accommodations, from camping to a four-star hotel. There?s space available for parking RVs or setting up a tent, and the many sporting opportunities include beach volleyball, legball, tennis and all kinds of children?s attractions. All-year round cottages can be let in the vicinity of the aquapark. Bowling is available in the nearby restaurant. If you?re really demanding, you will feel right at home here. A four-star hotel with quality accommodations and its own wellness facilities will see to your every need.

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Místo, kde najdete krásnou, člověkem nedotknutou přírodu, to je právě Čeladná. Obec leží v údolí řeky Čeladenky nedaleko města Frýdlant n.O. Pojďte zde strávit nejen aktivní dovolenou, ale také zažít odpočinek.

Na československém pomezí leží obec Bílá, která je hlavně v zimním období mezi lyžaři často skloňovaným slovem. Ski region Bílá Beskydy zahrnuje hned dva lyžařské areály: ski areál Bílá a ski areál Mezivodí.

Obec Hukvaldy je poslední lašskou obcí v předhůří Beskyd. Svůj název získaly dle pověsti podle vílek hůkalek, kterých za dávných časů v místních hvozdech potulovalo bezpočet.

Pustevny jsou jedním z nejvýznamnějších turistických středisek v Beskydech. Svůj název získaly po poustevnících, kteří zde žili. Pro Pustevny jsou charakteristické srubové stavby v secesním slohu Šumná, Maměnka a Libušín, které navrhl architekt Dušan Jurkovič.

Moravský Betlém, jak je Štramberku přezdíváno, leží v centru Štramberské vrchoviny na svazích Zámeckého kopce, Kotouče, Bílé hory a Libotínských vrchů. Městu i širokému okolí dominuje Štramberská Trúba, která je pozůstatek gotického hradu Strallenberg z 13. století.