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The town of Hlučín lies at the foot of the Hlučínsko downs on the banks of the river Opava. The picturesque scenery of surrouding countryside along with the cultural landmarks and the wide range of leisure facilities available make Hlučín an attractive tourist centre in the region.
This medium-size town, with 15 000 inhabitans, is one of the natural centres of the Opava or Silesia region. Throughout its history smaller districts have been connested to and then separated from the town. Hlučín currently includes the urban areas of Bobrovníky and Darkovičky. Lying on the Ostrava-Opava road and near national borders, the town offers excellent communications with the surrounding area and with neighbouring countries, particularly Poland and Slovakia.
History
The town was established in 1256 by the Czech King Přemysl Otakar II on a "green field". The greatest contribution to the construction and flourishing of the town was made by Bernard of Zvole, whose coat of arms is carved in stone and set into the wall of the entrance hall of the town hall. The Lord of Zvole had a castle built on the foundations of a gothic castle. Parts of the walls and fortifications survive to this day. Other objects of historical interest include the Church of John the Baptist, the town hall building, the sepulchre of the Wettekamp family, and other buildings which are unique in the region.
In 1742 the whole Hlučínsko region became part of Prussia, and remained so until 1920, when the versailles Treaty returned the region to our Republic. Hlučín was the main administrative town of the district from this time until 1960, when the modern era of the town´s history began.
Famous natives of Hlučín
Composers Pavel Josef Vejvanovský and Paul Blaschke were born in Hlučín, as were the writers Bohumil Hynek Bílovský and Tomáš Xaver Laštůvka, painters Jan Bochenek and Jan Janda, the philosopher Alois Hrusik, scientist Karel Ferdinand Václavík, and journalist Johanes Meyer-Hultschin. Many other significant personalities have spent part of their lives in Hlučín.
Tourism and recreation in and around Hlučín
Hlučín´s proximity to Ostrava is in itself an attraction, with two main benefits. Visitors can leave the bustly of city life behind them, while having easy access to the attractions that the city has to offer.
In Hlučín itself tourists can make use of the sporting and recreational facilities on and around the large lake. In summer visitors can have a refreshing swim in the lake itself, or in the two adjacent open-air swimming pools. The large paddling pool is ideal for families with toddlers to enjoy themselves. The campsite next to the lake is increasing in popularity every year. Sports lovers can try their hand at minigolf, play volleyball on the courts, enjoy water-skiing thanks to the automatic drag-mechanism installed at the lake, hire boats and pedaloes. The lake is also ideal for windsurfing. Various restaurants, snack bars and other stalls offer refreshments. Apart from the campsite, visitors can stay in Pension Rodos, a bed and breakfast establishment, which is within the recreation area.
The military fortifications in the area of Darkovičky are well worth a visit. As one of the best examples in Europe of permanent fortification systems from the Second World War, the Darkovičky site is one of the Czech Republic´s most unusual museums, presented in an attractive and modern style. The military and technical museum is also a place which represents the democratic tradition of our army, and contains 3 infantry block-houses which were part of the Moravian-Silesian section of the heavy fortifications which date from the 1930s. The "Alley" block-house, restored to its 1938 condition, forms the main part of the exhibition. All the block-houses are fitted out with period equipment and armaments.
The area around
Hlučín is ideal for walking tours and hiking. Several tourist path marked out
and lead to places of interest in the surrounding area. Cycling tours around
Hlučín are also becoming more and more popular, for demanding cyclists or for
those who just want to enjoy a leisurely ride.
Map of region:
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Map of Hlučín:
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