An eight-kilometre trail connects several infantry bunkers in the Staroměstská pevnostní oblast. The fortifications were built for defence before the Second World War, so a walk through the landscape also offers a glimpse into the region’s history of fortification. For your trip, you can also choose from mountain trails, museums and a listed church building.
Getting here and finding your way
You can reach Staré Město by train from Hanušovice, where there is a connection to a local railway from the express train station on the Olomouc–Jeseník line. If you are travelling by train, check the current timetable. By road, the route from Hanušovice to Staré Město follows the Krupá River valley; another road leads here from Branná. The different travel options may influence your choice of where to stay and how to plan each day.
Trails between mountains and fortification history
A route from Staré Město leads to Paprsek, at an elevation of 1,022 metres in the Rychlebské hory mountains. Those interested in historic sites can take a different kind of route through the Staroměstská pevnostní oblast: the eight-kilometre trail connects several infantry bunkers built for defence before the Second World War. Access to individual bunkers may vary. Red-and-white markers show the way, and the railway station can serve as a starting point. Markings and access may change as maintenance is carried out, and trail conditions can also vary.
Another attraction in the mountains is Dalimilova Rozhledna, a stone observation tower on 918-metre Větrov near Staré Město. The tower is a faithful replica of the former observation tower on Králický Sněžník. This 1,424-metre mountain is considered a natural landmark of the surrounding region. The fortifications and mountains therefore offer different possible focuses for your trip, rather than the same kind of outing. Access rules at the observation tower may change; check the current conditions before visiting.
Church and museums
The listed Church of St. Anne is another historic point of interest. The present Catholic building was constructed in 1618. At the Muzeum vojenské historie a Staroměstska, the exhibitions include one on fortifications, covering the start of construction of permanent fortifications in the 1930s. Another exhibition provides a comprehensive historical overview of the Czechoslovak Army.
The Staré Město Museum occupies a single room on the ground floor of the town hall and opened in 2001. Its collection includes around two hundred objects and historical archival materials, including dozens of photographs of architectural landmarks and natural beauty spots. The two museums have different focuses: one is devoted to military history and fortifications, while the other displays objects, archival materials and photographs. Museum opening hours may change; check before your visit.
More things to do and seasonal differences
Jízdárna Černý kůň at Sportovní 333 offers horse rides through the landscapes of Králický Sněžník, Rychlebské hory and Jeseníky. Riding lessons with experienced instructors are also available. For travellers who prefer to explore on foot independently, the trails described above offer another way to experience the area.
The wider Staroměstsko area has more than 140 kilometres of maintained cross-country ski trails of varying difficulty. This activity is seasonal: snow conditions and trail maintenance affect what is available. It is therefore quite different from year-round cultural attractions such as the church and museums, although you should still check their visiting hours in advance.
Choose the focus of your stay
To help plan your trip, first decide what you would like to focus on: a walk through the fortification landscape, the church and museums, mountain trails, or seasonal cross-country skiing in the region. Horse rides and riding lessons are another option. Look for accommodation and plan your journey around these interests; the rail connection via Hanušovice and the road connections from Hanušovice and Branná offer different starting points.
Discover more destinations: Písařov, Rohle, Klopina, Dlouhomilov, Bušín, Moravičany, Šléglov, Nový Malín.
View the broader travel guide: Okres Šumperk.
