WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT THE BESKIDS

It’s a shame that most people planning a trip to the Czech Republic only see the capital, Prague, when there’s so much more to discover in the rest of the country. From unspoiled nature to history, culture, cuisine, and pampering experiences, there’s something for everyone in the Beskid Mountains and the wider Moravian-Silesian region. Having recently seen a bit of it on a trip to the Czech Republic, I can understand why the locals love this area so much.

WHERE ARE THE BESKIDS?

The Beskids are also known as the Beskid Mountains. This is a massive mountain range, 600 km long, stretching from Poland into the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Ukraine. This collection of peaks, with its forests, wildlife, and river valleys, offers a pristine ecosystem far removed from the big city. There are a number of peaks on the mountain range, but none is more famous than its summit, Lysá Hora.

In 1973, the Beskids were declared a nature reserve, which underlines their importance for the country.

A large part of it is located in the Moravian-Silesian Region and its increasing popularity is due to its natural beauty, the development of hiking trails, supporting resorts for winter and summer, and a wealth of activities for every type of holiday.

FEUER’S BIRTHPLACE

This museum, open year-round, is the perfect pit stop when exploring the region around the mountains. They’ve done an impressive job transforming this ordinary-looking house into an interactive museum, where an audio guide with Freud’s fictional voice leads you through the house and its influence on key periods of his career. The caricatures by renowned Czech illustrator Vladimír Jiránek brilliantly depict Freud’s personality and his love of humor.

NOVY JICIN AND THE CITY OF HATS

As if time has stood still, this fairytale 14th-century town is small, accessible, and easy to explore. With colorful pastel-hued houses and church steeples lining the cobblestone streets, they all lead to the beautifully constructed old town square called the Masaryk Square . In this square you will find perfect examples of Renaissance and Baroque architecture hanging above the arcade arches.

The city’s main attraction is the castle, which houses the visitor center, a hat exhibition, and a museum about General Ernst Gideon Laudon condition .

If you’ve ever wondered where hats are made, this is the place for you, because Novy Jicin is legendary when it comes to its place in the hat industry. Tonak Company It boasts a 200-year tradition, and while the factories are located outside the old town, you’ll find a fascinating exhibition showcasing all the types of hats they produce, from modern to fantastically strange. Come here to learn more about the hat-making process, and if you’re lucky, you might even get to participate in a mini hat-decorating workshop. Spend some time here, and you’ll understand why Novy Jicin is known as the “City of Hats.”

Continue inside the same building and you will find an interactive and educational museum about one of the most important military leaders of the 18th century. General Laudon Learn more about his contribution to the wars between Austria and Prussia and campaigns against the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans.

OLD VILLAGE ŠTRAMBERK

There is no city with a more distinctive silhouette than  Štramberk . Located on the rocky hill, the castle that once stood here is no more, but a slender, stone tower rises above the town and can be seen for miles around.

Solitary tower

The castle was built in the 13th century to protect merchants traveling on the trade routes to Hungary. Today, it is a popular viewpoint where a wooden spiral staircase leads directly to the top of the gable roof, offering a 360-degree view of the city, the Beskid Mountains, the Jeseníky Mountains, and the plains stretching towards Ostrava when the shutters are open. Trúba The tower is a must-see and a fabulous walk from the foot of the city.

As you make your way up, take note of the 18th and 19th century wooden houses and enjoy the views of the farms and villages below.

Prehistoric discoveries

This town not only dates back to the 13th century, but also to 40,000 BC. On the neighboring hill is a cave where prehistoric remains have been found. In 1880, the lower jaw of a Neanderthal child was discovered in what was then a significant niche. It is very likely that prehistoric hunters and large predators used this cave.

Today it is an easy way to get to  Šipka Cave to get there, and a perfect side trip during your time here. Along the way, you will also be treated to the most beautiful panoramic views of Štramberk.

Try a local specialty

Štramberk is also known for something that will sound rather strange. The name Štramberker Ears It might make you wince, but it’s actually a sweet pastry made from honey-flavored dough, twisted to look like Twister ears. Legend has it they were created and baked to commemorate the victory of the Stramberker Christians over the Tatar army.

They taste most like oversized gingerbread cookies, but softer. You’ll find them in shops all over the city, and it’s the only place you can find them in the Czech Republic. You can eat them with gelato, or better yet, take them to the factory.  Cukrárna U Hezounů go , where they are made fresh every day. Piping hot is how I like them!

HIKING TO THE HIGHEST PEAK OF THE BESKIDS

A random fact I learned during my trip to the Czech Republic is that the country has the highest number of sports shops per capita in all of Europe.. It’s something you wouldn’t normally associate with the Czech Republic, but once you arrive in the Moravian-Silesian region, you begin to understand how much the locals love their nature.

The trail to the highest peak of the Beskids begins in Ostravice. The path is well-marked and quite wide and open. Your destination is the 1325-meter-high summit.  Lysá Hora , which is easily recognizable by the large tower at the top, which serves as a mountain rescue center, meteorological station and radio transmitter.

As far as hiking is concerned, the incline is not too challenging, but expect the hike to the summit to take 2 hours.. Along the way you will see a dynamic change in landscape, from forests to open hill views, to switchbacks that will eventually lead you to the summit.. The path consists mostly of gravel and in some places of some large loose stones, which means you need to be careful with your steps to make sure you don’t get twisted ankles.

Once you reach the top, you will be greeted by a newly built log cabin that not only caters to day hikers with its cafeteria, but also Cottage Marathon which is called and is available for reservations. Stay overnight to enjoy the sunset, the night sky, and the sunrise on a single trip.

The breathtaking view from Lysá Hora is unbeatable, with the rolling hills below, the bright lights of nearby towns, the seemingly endless hills of smaller peaks, the shimmering blue tones of a reservoir, and the undulating forest covering the mountain range.