Although the largest Moravian spa town of Luhačovice is beautiful beyond measure, some visitors might find endless walks around the area and tastings of natural mineral springs rather monotonous after a few days. Don’t fancy staying in one place but need to be active? We completely understand. Below you’ll discover a few tips for interesting places in the Zlín Region.
A must-see stop in the Zlín Region is Zlín Zoo Lešná. You’ve surely heard of this place by word of mouth. If not, remedy that immediately. It’s one of the most beautiful places in Moravia. Located about 4 kilometres from the regional city of Zlín, it ranks among the most visited zoos in the Czech Republic. In this unique zoo, you’ll see animals from all continents. In one day, you can travel through Asia, Africa, South America and Australia. The biggest attraction recently is undoubtedly the Stingray Bay. You can not only observe the marine stingrays but also stroke them and even feed them. You can also walk through the island kingdom of ring-tailed lemurs. Don’t worry if a smaller furry adventurer pays you a closer visit. You can observe kangaroos and emus up close, walking through the free Australian exhibition. History lovers will find interesting bits here too. Lešná Castle features 11 stylishly furnished rooms. The castle is surrounded by a park with rare trees. Some trees are up to 270 years old.
Many visitors travelling to Luhačovice pass through the so-called Buchlov Hills. Here at the very peak, as is customary, you can spot Buchlov Castle. It’s protected as a cultural monument and is also on the list of national cultural monuments. It ranks among the oldest castles in the Czech Republic. Its origins date back to the first half of the 13th century. It was founded as a strategic defensive fortress and administrative centre with judicial authority. The castle’s great significance lies in the unique preservation of original architectural elements from individual construction periods. You can visit Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque rooms with exhibitions of lifestyle from the 14th to 19th centuries. The collections feature an outstanding collection of panel paintings, baroque family gallery, armoury, library, black kitchen, natural history collections of travellers, and a mysterious Egyptian mummy. You can conclude your castle tour with a visit to the lookout tower. It’s best to combine your castle visit with a tour of the owners’ tomb in the nearby Chapel of St. Barbara.
Journey back to times long past. People in Wallachia lived both harsh and gentle lives. Rožnov pod Radhoštěm hides the Wallachian Open Air Museum in its heart. The largest and oldest open-air museum in Central Europe was founded in 1925, and nearly 100 heritage buildings are distributed across three exhibitions. The oldest and most visited area is known as the Wooden Town. It presents the way of life in a small town. During the main season, folklore and craft programmes take place here every weekend. It’s also the venue for several folk festivals, just like in Luhačovice. You can continue to Mill Valley, which houses functional technical buildings mainly powered by water – fulling mills, a mill and a sawmill. You can also see an oil press. The museum’s most extensive area is the Wallachian Village. Farmsteads, mountain hut buildings, a mill and blacksmith’s shop – all captured from 19th-century living times. Fields, gardens and fruit trees recall the cultivation of old crops.
You surely all know that the teacher of nations, Jan Amos Comenius, was born in Moravia. The museum in Uherský Brod focuses on studying his life and work. The museum offers several permanent exhibitions. Under UNESCO patronage, the exhibition “Comenius to Humanity” was created, which introduces visitors to his life and work, as well as his era and the circumstances in which he lived. The museum was established in 1898 and also provides services to researchers. The museum’s photo archive, costume collections, library and other collections are frequently used. You’ll find the building at the very end of Brod’s square.
