Slovakia and the Tatra Mountains

Tatra Mountains

Although our tour is billed as a four-country tour with stays in Germany, Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary, there is actually a fifth country included – Slovakia.

On day 8, on the drive between Krakow, Poland and Budapest, Hungary, we are treated with a drive through the beautiful Tatra Mountains situated in the northern part of Slovakia, one of the smallest mountain ranges in the world.

In 1993, the Tatras were declared by UNESCO to be the “Biospheric Reservation of the Tatras.”  There are 25 peaks surpassing 2500 meters above sea level.  The highest peak in the range is Gerlachovsky peak (2655 m.) making the Tatras a great winter sport area.

There are 85 mountain lakes on the Slovak side of the Tatras nestled in the valleys.  At the end of the valleys are beautiful waterfalls that make the Tatras even more breathtaking. These 360-degree images give a sweeping view of the mountain lakes.

The Tatras also play host to a wide variety of flora and fauna from the lovely blue willow gentian to the cedar pines that grow on the steepest back of the hillsides.  The Tatra chamois, wolves, and brown bears find homes in the deep forests.

Although this day may appear to be a long bus ride to our final destination, it is definitely not a day for napping on the bus.  In this case, the phrase “you snooze, you lose” is really quite appropriate!

Olomouc, Czech Republic

Holy Trinity Column

On our way from Prague to Krakow, we stop by historic Olomouc (pronounced ˈolomou̯ts], known as one the prettiest towns in the Czech Republic and located in the heart of the Hana region.

This city dates from the Middle Ages and was one of the main centers of Moravia.  In the 11^th century a Diocese was established here and in 1306 the last Czech king, Wenceslas III, was murdered here.

During the Renaissance, Olomouc had 30,000 inhabitants and many magnificent palaces, such as Přemyslid Palace and Olomouc Castle.  Today it is a city of over 100,000 citizens.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Holy Trinity Column dominates the city centre.  It is the largest group of Baroque statues within a single sculptural monument in Central Europe.  There are 18 stone statues of saints, 11 light-bearers, and 6 relief busts of the apostles.  The column is 35 meters high and the lower portion houses a seasonably accessible chapel.

The 35-meter column is topped by a gilded copper sculpture of the Holy Trinity with the Assumption of the Virgin Mary beneath.

Also on the city centre square is the 15^th century astronomical clock on the side of the town hall.  It takes its present appearance from the 1950s when it was refurbished during the communist era after substantial damage during WWII.

In front of the astronomical clock is a scale model of the entire old town in bronze.

St. Wenceslas Cathedral dominates the city skyline with the tallest spire in Moravia and the second largest in the Czech Republic.  St. Moritz Church, dating from 1398, houses the Engler organ, one of the largest in Europe.

St. Michael’s Church, which is quite plain on the outside, features one of the most beautiful Baroque interiors of Central Europe.  It houses a unique painting of an apparently pregnant Virgin Mary, rare for a Catholic church.

This blog, Czech the Flip, has some really good photos of Olomouc.  This video, UNESCO Olomouc (1:00), is a brief visit to the city.

Want to see something really cool?  Go on Google Earth and fly to Holy Trinity Column, Olomouc, Czech Republic.  The monument is one of 19 UNESCO sites that shows in 3D.  Awesome!