Discovering the treasures of human art in the Jeseníky Mountains

The spa village of Velké Losiny boasts two national cultural monuments. The oldest paper manufactory in Central Europe has been producing exclusive handmade paper for an incredible four hundred years. When you visit the famous late Renaissance castle of Velké Losiny, which was not only the film but also the real-life residence of the Inquisitor Boblig, be sure to notice the oldest two-seater stretcher in the world. The Chateau Goldenstein complex in Branná also belongs to the category of late Renaissance arcaded castles. The long-decaying monument is enjoying a rebirth as a chateau boutique hotel. However, a guided tour is also possible. The chateau in Bruntál represents the Nordic Renaissance in the Jeseníky Mountains in a very original way. Its ground plan is a circular section and the arcaded courtyard is built in a triangle. However, the castle interiors are also worth a visit.

A unique example of the folk architecture of Silesia is the mower house in Karlovice near Vrbno pod Pradědem, which rightly enjoys the highest level of monument protection. And why the mower? In the early days, the building functioned as a hammer mill, but from 1725 it was used to produce scythes, sickles, wire and other agricultural tools.

You will also find truly exceptional architectural treasures in the Rychlebské hory. On a rocky promontory above the Silesian Javorník Mountains is the Jánský vrch Chateau, a national cultural monument. A pleasant walk from it will take you, among other things, to the Račí Valley. There, amidst the greenery, you will see the building of the Dancing House, which is full of colour and graceful curves.

While wandering through the Jeseníky and Rychlebské hory Mountains, you should definitely take a look at the churches and chapels. You may be surprised at what treasures they hide. The chapel in Lipky near Rýmařov is considered a pearl of the North Moravian Baroque, the chapel on Kaplička Hill in Malé Morávka hides a unique painted coffered ceiling, and you can admire the art of master carpenters at the timbered churches in Klepáčov, Žárová or Maršíkovo. Among the rarities of Rychleby is the Church of St. Joseph in Žulová, whose belfry rises from the tower of a medieval castle. The parish church in the almost forgotten settlement of Travná near the Polish border is also worthy of attention. The author of the building is the architect of the Viennese town hall and one of the most important artists of the 19th century, Friedrich von Schmidt!

And we must not forget in this list the art of contemporary creators who have left an indelible trace in the Jeseníky mountains. The most significant buildings were built at the foot of the Králický Sněžník mountain range. An intense feeling of being in the clouds is offered by the unique Trail in the Clouds in Lower Moravia, which was created by the renowned architectural studio of Zdeněk Franek. The Silver Twiggy on the Štvanice hill between Hynčice and Stříbrnice was also designed by the renowned Martin Rajniš studio, which focuses on the idea of long-term sustainability of architecture, its relationship to nature and human society.