the second stage of hiking
Olomouc - Kokory
Basic information about the trail
On the way from Olomouc, the heart of Haná, you will pass through a gently undulating landscape full of meadows, fields and beautiful views of the wide surroundings. This is a quiet stretch of straightforward countryside, ending just before you enter the Moravian Gate region.
What's ahead of us?
Starting point: Olomouc
Ending point: Kokory
Distance: 18,7 km
Estimated travel time: 5:04 hours
Difficulty: low
Altitude: ascent 152 m, descent 149 m
Surface: Especially forest and field paths, paved asphalt road
Critical points: none
Our tip:
What can be seen?
Archaeological, pilgrimage, technical and natural monuments.
Parks in Olomouc
- 77900 Olomouc
- tourism.olomouc.eu
- infocentrum@olomouc.eu
- +420 585 513 385
Parks in Olomouc
Parks in Olomouc are the proverbial “lungs” of the city in the heart of Haná, which surround the historic core on all sides.
Bezruč Park
They are situated under medieval and Theresian walls and thanks to the unique scenery created by the rocks, walls and the flowing Mlýnský Brook, a walk through these orchards is an exceptional experience. An architectural part of Bezruč Park is the South Slavic Mausoleum, a common tomb with the remains of South Slavic soldiers who died in Moravia and Silesia during World War I. The park is also decorated with a monument to Petr Bezruč, whose name the park bear. From the Bezruč Park you can climb the staircase of Jakubský výpad up the walls to the Parkán Gardens of Palacký University.
Smetana Park
It is the largest park in Olomouc and consists of tall stands of chestnut and lime trees. There is also a magnolia garden, which is designed as a relaxation area. In spring, it provides a view of a flood of white and pink flowers, some of which reach a size of up to 20 cm. In autumn and winter, the wondrous East Asian and American elm bushes bloom in yellow and red.
Čech Park
Čech Park were established in the 1930s. Čech Park is a park intended primarily for relaxation. The park includes the Memorial to the Liberation of Olomouc by the Soviet Army unveiled in 1945, a statue of Božena Němcová, Professor V. Navrátil and a monument dedicated to the important Olomouc graphic artist Karel. The architectural attractions of the park include the fortress so-called Litovelská Gate, which was moved to the entrance of the orchards in 1896.
Liberation Memorial Velký Týnec
- Velký Týnec
- www.velkytynec.cz
- velkytynec@velkytynec.cz
- +420 585 151 111
Liberation Memorial Velký Týnec
In 1921 a large stone cairn was built above Velký Týnec – the Liberation Monument. It is located in the area where once there was a fortified settlement. The building, conceived as the Liberation Monument, was designed by a local native, architect František Kolář. Even the President of the Czechoslovak Republic, T. G. Masaryk, attended the unveiling ceremony on 18 September 1921. This event is commemorated by a nearby memorial stone. On the front side of the cairn is the inscription 1620-VSTALŤ JEST-NÁROD OSVOBOZENÝ-1918. A memorial plaque commemorating the death of 31 men from Tyniec who died at the front during World War I, including one of the twenty citizens who joined the Czechoslovak foreign legions, was placed in the cairn. Later, a memorial plaque to the victims of World War II was added. The imposing cairn stands on Hradisko Hill 299 m above sea level, a wooden cross stands a short distance away, there is a fireplace with seating and benches are placed around it. It is a beautiful viewpoint, in good weather you can enjoy a beautiful view not only of the village itself, but also of Olomouc.
The Kingdom Nature Reserve
- Grygov
- www.grygov.cz
- obec@grygov.cz
- +420 585 393 262
The Kingdom Nature Reserve
The Kingdom Nature Reserve is located about 8 km southeast of Olomouc between the villages of Dub nad Moravou, Majetín, Grygov and Charváty. The whole area is interwoven with a network of paths that directly encourages long walks. It is a very species diverse floodplain forest in the vast floodplain of the Morava River. The whole area is characterised by rich flora and fauna. In the spring season, you will find an anemone, hollow-leaved wood anemone, yellow woodruff or primrose in the herbaceous floor. Later on, bear garlic dominates. Among the critically endangered amphibians, there are, for example, the common mockingbird, the mountain mockingbird and the green sundew. Over 63 species of birds nest here. An interesting sight is the monumental tree “Oak King”, which grows near the railway line and is 460 years old.
Where to eat and sleep?
Restaurants and accommodation along the trail.
Restaurant Na Zámku
- Zámecká 35, 78372 Velký Týnec
- nazamku.tynec@gmail.com
- +420 774 405 700
Motorest Kokory
- Kokory 381, 75105 Kokory
- www.zdkokory.cz/ubytovna
- motorest@zdkokory.cz
- +420 581 292 811
Are you interested in having your establishment appear on this website? Click on the link on the right and fill in the attached form.
Photogalery
Photos from hiking.
Why walk the trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route?
The long-distance trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route invite you to pilgrimage sites and archaeological sites that have contributed significantly to the development of Slavic culture. They are signposted in both directions and encourage wandering without borders, not only state borders.
- Experience: you'll be surprised what you can do
- Great signposting: tourist signposting
- Incredible landscape: we wander through the countryside off the busy stretches
What can be obtained?
Perhaps everyone likes to bring back something from hiking, be it various tourist and souvenir items. If you will be hiking the Cyril and Methodius Route, we have prepared the following printed materials to motivate you to hike the trail:
- Pilgrimage passports: collecting stamps for a special passport
- Memorial letters: a souvenir letter at the end of the journey
- Maps: printed guide
Basilica minor of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary
The Basilica on Svatý Kopeček is an unmissable dominant feature of the whole surroundings of Olomouc. The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary on Svatý Kopeček has been the destination of thousands of pilgrims for centuries, and even today it is one of the most famous and most visited pilgrimage sites in the Czech Republic. According to the legend, the pilgrimage site was founded by Jan Andrýsek, a townsman and wine merchant from Olomouc, by building a chapel, which the Virgin Mary requested in a dream. The main pilgrimage takes place on the Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary (31 May), on the Sunday after the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) and on the following Monday and Tuesday and also on the last Sunday in October.
The church was built by the Premonstratensians in the 17th and 18th centuries on the site of a chapel destroyed by the Swedes. The orientation of the temple is unique, as the main axis does not run from east to west, but the temple faces the mother monastery Hradisko. The priest who blessed the faithful from the altar is said to have blessed the monastery as well when the doors were open. In 1995, Pope John Paul II elevated the church to the status of Basilica Minor. This important place of pilgrimage has undergone a long-term reconstruction, the second stage of which was completed in 2021. Thanks to the reconstruction, this Baroque jewel is now in perfect condition and the previously closed areas are now open to visitors. For example, a new tour circuit that takes visitors to the choir, where they can enjoy a unique view of the cathedral, also takes them through the previously inaccessible representative halls. Visitors can also visit the Svatý Kopeček Museum, which displays monstrances, reliquaries, mass vestments and an exhibition of pilgrimage. The museum tour has twenty stops with descriptions and QR codes, with the first stop located outside the basilica.
