Velká Bystřice brings together cultural history and marked hiking trails, offering different ways to shape your stay. The castle complex, the Haná folk costume exhibition, the “Lidový rok” folklore festival and Galeriezet give the cultural experience several distinct facets; the hiking trails lead outdoors, with varied starting points and landscapes. To plan your trip, you can first decide whether to focus on exhibitions, music and traditions or to include a hike. You can plan these activities separately rather than assuming a fixed itinerary.
Castle Complex and Haná Folk Costumes
The castle complex comprises the castle, the buildings of the former brewery malt house and the castle park. The Haná folk costume exhibition is located in the west wing of the castle. It displays Haná and Blaťácké folk costumes, as well as costume elements from private collections, from the Haná folklore ensemble’s collection and from the depot of the Vlastivědné muzeum v Olomouci. This means the exhibition includes both different forms of folk costume and items from a range of collection contexts. The castle park also has an amphitheatre with a varied seasonal programme. If you would like to include an event in your trip, check the dates against your travel period.
Folklore and Contemporary Art
The international “Lidový rok” folklore festival takes place in Velká Bystřice and was founded in 1989. It welcomes ensembles from across Europe. The programme includes traditional music, dance and crafts—different aspects of folklore that give the festival its cultural focus. If you are interested in these traditions, you can take the festival dates into account when planning your trip.
Galeriezet complements these themes with contemporary art from the Czech Republic and abroad. The gallery presents exhibitions by leading independent artists; its scope includes painting, drawing, graphic art, sculpture, photography and video art. Galeriezet also hosts talks, concerts featuring classical, jazz and alternative music, and poetry readings. Its programme thus ranges from visual art to music and literature. If you would like to include different cultural forms in your stay, you will find more than one way to engage with art here.
Churches and Hiking Trails
A prominent landmark in Velká Bystřice is the Church of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. It was first mentioned in 1283. Another religious site, Husova sbor, can also be visited. The church is therefore a historical point of reference for the town; Husova sbor offers an additional reason to visit.
Two marked hiking trails also offer different options for outdoor activities. A yellow-marked hiking route passes through Velká Bystřice. A green-marked route starts at the railway stop in Velká Bystřice and runs through the valley of the Lošovský potok past a water reservoir. The routes differ in their course and starting point: the yellow route passes through the town, while the green route takes in the landscape of the valley and reservoir. When choosing, you can consider whether you prefer a route through the town or the scenery along the green trail.
The Cultural and Information Centre provides bicycle maps and tourist maps free of charge. Two types of maps are available to help you find your way: bicycle maps and tourist maps. You can choose the type that best suits how you would like to explore Velká Bystřice.
Discover more destinations: Haňovice, Pňovice, Dub Nad Moravou, Daskabát, Žerotín, Drahanovice, Náměšť Na Hané, Stepanov.
For the regional travel overview: Olomouc District.
