The Church of St Martin shapes the cultural and historical character of Široká Niva: the single-nave Baroque building was completed in 1721 and is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. Together with its location in the Opava Valley, it gives the village a character in which architectural history and landscape offer two distinct ways to experience a stay.
Church, vicarage and town hall
Several architectural features can be distinguished at the Church of St Martin. The masonry building is laid out lengthwise, with a prismatic tower rising from the centre of the façade. The church grounds also include a vicarage dating from the 16th century. It was altered in the Baroque style and given an Empire-style façade. This brings the architectural history of the church and the later alterations to the vicarage together within a closely related theme.
Another historical landmark is the Liechtenstein castle, dating from the 18th century, which now serves as the town hall. Thus, alongside the parish church, a castle building with a present-day municipal function forms part of the village’s character. A statue of St John of Nepomuk adds to the area’s cultural and historical landmarks. Anyone interested in architectural forms and the history of a place will find more than a single perspective on the Baroque in these varied examples.
Markvartice is also part of the municipality of Široká Niva. There you will find the SLO VEČ 389ABR A-120-type bunker, part of the light permanent fortification system. It lies about 800 metres from the village centre, beside a paved road and around 100 metres from the Široká Niva educational trail. The approximate distances and location beside the road provide a sense of the site’s location.
Opava Valley, forest and educational trail
Široká Niva lies in the rolling landscape of Nízký Jeseník, in the Opava Valley. Almost 72 percent of the municipality’s area is forested. This figure refers to the entire municipality and gives an impression of the landscape setting, not just the built-up village centre. The municipality also includes the Kunov Nature Reserve, designated in 1997. The Tlustá Berta silver fir (Abies alba) also stands in the cadastral area of Široká Niva. The landscape region, protected area and individual tree offer different ways to understand the municipality’s natural features.
The Široká Niva educational trail passes through the village and its surroundings. Its five stops cover cultural, natural and historical sights in the municipality. The trail therefore brings together a range of themes that are each discussed in separate sections of this description. Before your visit, check the trail’s condition locally; no length or walking time is provided here.
Cyclists will also find a specific regional reference: in the cadastral area of Skrbovice, cycle route 6073 runs beside the SLO VEČ 400BR bunker. The information about the two bunkers relates to different places and cadastral areas, so they should not be understood as a single site.
Getting there and planning your stay
For travel by train, GW Train Regio’s timetable lists Široká Niva as a stop on regional railway line 313 between Milotice nad Opavou and Vrbno pod Pradědem. The timetable shown is valid from 14 December 2025 to 12 December 2026. If you are planning an overnight stay in Široká Niva, this rail connection may be a factor in choosing where to stay. Check the current service before travelling and plan according to the connections available on your travel date.
Široká Niva brings together clearly distinct themes: the Baroque Church of St Martin and its vicarage, a castle that now serves as the town hall, and the landscape and natural features of the Opava Valley. The educational trail brings cultural, natural and historical themes together at five stops, while regional railway line 313 provides a practical reference for planning your journey. You can decide which aspects to focus on based on your interests and the time available.
Discover more destinations: Brantice, Svobodné Heřmanice, Úvalno, Razová, Jindřichov Ve Slezsku, Bohušov, Rusín, Nové Heřminovy.
See the broader travel overview: Bruntál District.
