Tom`s travels: Olomouc (10-11/12/2016)

Together with my girlfriend Ania, we decided to spend the weekend visiting the city of Olomouc in the Czech Republic. After getting up quite early, we took a bus leaving at around 7:30 and taking nearly 4 hours reaching the city at around 11:30. After reaching the destination, we decided to head to the place we had booked for the night and leave the luggage before visiting. After walking through the town we reached the Cosy Hostel, located in the city center and at just five minutes walk from the main square. After checking in, paying for the room, leaving our luggage and taking a shower from the long bus ride, we decided to go into town. We reached the Horni Namesti, literally Upper Square, or the city's main square where the main monuments stand. The immense Holy Trinity Column caught our sight as it towers above everything else. A Unesco world heritage site, it is a Baroque monument built from 1716 to 1754. It was built as thanks for the ending of a plague that had struck Moravia during that period and it's a perfect example of local expression of art and sculpture as all artists and craftsmen came from the city. Also many of the saints depicted standing on the column are local saints both from Moravia and Bohemia; and incredible thing is that the column is so big it even holds a chapel inside. Right behind it stands the town hall, dating to the 14th century in the Gothic style with a few additions and refurbishments from the next three centuries. Really interesting and peculiar is the astronomical clock which was unfortunately destroyed during wwii but then reconstructed; at midday we even saw it perform. Around the square there are also three fountains, two of which date to the 17th century the Ceasar and Hercules fountains, while one is much more recent. As it was close to Christmas time, a Christmas market had taken spot all around the town hall and it looked very nice. From there we walked over to the Dolni Namesti, or Lower Square, where a smaller version of the Holy Trinity Column stands at its center. There are also two other fountains one dedicated to Neptune and the other to Jupiter. Right next to the Marian column we decided to have lunch in a popular place called Hanacka Hospoda which was full as expected but cheap and really good. After eating we went back out once again and began walking uphill through old streets. We reached the Church of Saint Michael; one of the most impressive of the city. It was built during the 17th century in the Baroque style and had an incredible interior. Once out we headed a little further and visited the small but pretty Chapel of St John Sarkander built in the Baroque fashion. Another nice Baroque church not further on was the Church of Our Lady of the Snows which we also visited. Typical Jesuit church is has a really impressive facade. Continuing on we reached the Cathedral dedicated to St Wenceslas. Originally built in Gothic style, at the end of the 19th century several Neo-Gothic additions were made to make it look even more impressive. After visiting the large yet quite unadorned interior, we exited to a beautiful sunset. Then as it was getting darker we headed back into town and towards the main square. After looking around the market we decided to go back to the hostel and have a nap before dinner. After the relaxing nap we came back to the main square and decided to try the food from the christmas market stands. It was quite nice though slightly more expensive than average but still enjoyable. Then we also decided to have a beer as the Czech Republic is famous for it. We headed to a local brewery called St Wenceslaus which had good beer and even a beer bath which we didn't have the chance to try. After the beer we were slightly tired and decided to head home to get up and visit the next day too. The next day, after getting up later and having breakfast in the hostel, we headed out to see the midday astronomical clock show. Not far we then visited the Church of St Maurice, built during the 15th century in Gothic style, it holds one of the largest organs in the Czech Republic. Then as we still had most of the day to do something, we decided to take a train and visit the nearby town of Kromeriz. After reaching the train station we took a train and switched in a small town called Hulin. After reaching Kromeriz, we headed towards the town center, initially passing by the B\roque Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary which we also visited quickly. From there we reached Riegrovo Square with a nice Marian column at its center, similar to those in Olomouc. Then not far ahead, we reached the main square, with nice tenement houses all around its perimeter. At its center stood another Marian column and a nice baroque fountain. Jutting out from behind the houses was the tower of the town's main attraction: the Castle, or Bishop's Palace. Inscribed, together with the gardens, in the Unesco world heritage site, it is a good but not outstanding example of princely residence in Europe, while its Pleasure garden is a very rare and largely intact example of Baroque garden. After reaching the castle though we found out it was closed and the opening time was only during the summer. Right next to it stood the Archbishop's Gymnasium with its impressive facade, and a little on the Church of St Maurice built in the Gothic style. Impressive and unexpected was the Church of St John the Baptist with a beautiful Baroque interior and a enjoyable choir practice taking place inside. We were then able to visit the Castle gardens which lie a little the west of town and were free of access as it was winter and most of the plants and trees were dead or without bloom. We walked around and nonetheless thought the place looked really nice, with its maze hedges and fountains decorating the area. After seeing the Baroque garden, we headed back to the station and took a train back to Olomouc. As we had booked a late bus we still had time to spare, so we decided to have a coffee and crepe in a small place called Cafe la Fee. After that walking around town further and going back to the hostel to take our bags we decided to have dinner right before taking the bus. We found a place called Restaurant Drapal which was ok but at least had good beer, but definitely not as good as last day's lunch place. After dinner we were then off to the bus station taking our ride back to Krakow.