Valasske Mezirici offers a wide range of cultural attractions to consider when planning a stay: a large Baroque castle in the city centre, interactive exhibitions, a museum dedicated to the butcher’s trade, and an observatory. There are also routes with specific themes and distances. You can decide whether the focus of your trip should be castle history, regional nature, craftsmanship or views of the night sky.
Castles with different exhibition themes
The large Baroque castle “Zámek Žerotínů” is located in the centre of Valašské Meziříčí. Its founding dates back to 1538. The south wing houses the Muzejní a galerijní centrum, which has a historical exhibition. The castle complex is a cultural centre for the city and offers a varied programme throughout the year. The castle courtyard has its own distinctive design: it is laid out as a French-style park. Festivals, concerts and film screenings take place there during the school holidays.
A different perspective takes centre stage at “Zámek Kinských” castle. It houses the interactive permanent exhibition “Člověk v krajině, krajina v lidech”. It explores how the relationship between people and the nature of the Valašsko region has changed, from the arrival of the first prehistoric hunters in the region to the present day. A branch of the Muzea regionu Valašsko is also based in the castle. An amphitheatre at the castle serves mainly as a venue for cultural events in summer.
Crafts, regional specialities and practical information
The Muzeum řeznictví is dedicated to the history of the butcher’s trade. An interactive exhibition presents butchery machines and equipment; the museum is fully accessible. During a guided tour, visitors can also sample meat and smoked specialities from MP Krásno, a. s. and the local Řeznictví H+H, as well as regional beer from the Paličák microbrewery, provided they book in advance. The tasting is therefore available only as part of a guided tour and with advance booking.
For practical information, the Tourist Information Centre is located in the historic Sýpka building, in the rear courtyard of Žerotínů Castle. It is 100 metres from the town square. You can borrow Nordic walking poles there for the Ťapkání route. This is a useful detail if you are planning to explore a route on foot as well as visit the exhibitions.
Routes, a park and a place to relax
The red tourist circuit passes monuments and places of interest in the city. It is described as an easy route, eight kilometres long with 238 metres of elevation gain. For a shorter exploration with a different theme, the “Naučná stezka Zámecký park Kinských” educational trail runs through the park. Its ten stops cover the park’s origins, history and natural features. The circuit can be assessed by its distance and elevation gain, while the educational trail is defined by its ten themed stops.
Rybník Podlesí is a fishing pond near the centre of Valašské Meziříčí. Its well-maintained banks are suitable for relaxing or taking a walk. It adds a quiet outdoor stay to the themed attractions. By contrast, if you would rather focus on a circuit or an educational trail, these options have clearly specified distances or numbers of stops.
Stargazing and the best time to visit
Hvězdárna Valašské Meziříčí offers programmes for individual visitors, families and organised groups. In good weather, visitors can use telescopes to observe the Moon, planets, multiple-star systems and stars in the night sky. Which objects can be observed depends on conditions and the season. Stargazing is therefore different from the exhibitions, whose themes are described as permanent: weather and the season determine what is possible here.
Cultural events also take place at different times of year. The “Zámek Žerotínů” castle complex offers a varied programme throughout the year; the festivals, concerts and film screenings mentioned in the courtyard take place during the school holidays. The amphitheatre at “Zámek Kinských” castle serves mainly as a cultural venue in summer. If you are planning your stay around a specific event, check its dates. That way, you can plan your timing around the focus that interests you.
Discover more destinations: Hutisko Solanec, Velké Karlovice, Lidečko, Zdechov, Rosenau, Mikulůvka, Bystřička, Růžďka.
For the wider travel overview: Okres Vsetín.
