Beskydy and Wallachia, Czech Republic: 20 Best Things to Do and See

At the end of May, we set off by caravan to the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy and Wallachia. The romantic green hills, folk architecture, and numerous cycling paths and hiking trails here will charm nature-loving couples and families with children. In this guide — Beskydy and Wallachia, Czech Republic: 20 Best Things to Do and See — I’ll share where to go, what to see, and tips for visiting this beautiful region.

You will learn a lot about the local Wallachian traditions, you can taste Radegast beer right at the source Radegast or even spend weeks hiking the Beskydy ridges. If you have the opportunity, bring your bikes, Beskydy is a paradise for cyclists. Let’s now look at where to go for a trip with children in Beskydy, what to see here, and where to stay strategically.

Where to Stay in Beskydy: Best Hotels

The most strategic starting point for exploring Beskydy is Rožnov pod Radhoštěm. Finding accommodation in Beskydy can be tricky during the season and you might not have many options, but if Hotel Horal is available, it’s one of the best in the area. Current offers with the best price/performance ratio:

How much Does it Cost to Rent a Caravan

If all hotels are already full, consider renting a caravan. We tested a caravan from Pan Karavan for five days and were surprised how comfortable traveling by caravan is.

Caravan rental costs 2500-2900 CZK per day, for longer rentals, there is a 10-20% discount. The caravan has a consumption of 10-11 liters.

The caravan has a shower, toilet, refrigerator, and kitchenette. It comfortably sleeps 4-5 people depending on the rented caravan. The caravan also has a bike rack, of course, but you can also put them in the storage compartment like we did. You also have outdoor seating and a grill available.

Where to Camp with a Caravan

With a caravan, you don’t have to pay for a campsite every day, if you conserve water, you can go to a campsite once every 2-3 days. Tips for camping outside campsites can be found at bezkempu.cz.

What to Watch out for when Driving a Caravan

If you are renting a caravan for the first time, we definitely recommend going off-season, when there will be less traffic and it will be easier to choose a spot and park at campsites. Never camp on unpaved surfaces if rain is expected, or the ground beneath you will get soaked and a tractor will have to pull you out.

And now, let’s get to why you came here. Best places in Beskydy:

Beskydy: where to Go for a Trip in Beskydy with or without Children

Let’s now look at where to go for a trip in Beskydy, what to see and what to do here.

Rožnov Pod Radhoštěm

A small town in the Rožnov Furrow area, which is part of the Western Beskydy, is an ideal starting point for exploring this region.

It has a small center where you’ll find the Church of All Saints, which was built as a replacement for a 16th-century wooden church between 1745–50. A number of cycling routes lead from here, which is why it is very popular for cycling trips.

Jurkovič Lookout Tower

The Jurkovič Lookout Tower looks like something out of a fairytale, it stands on top of Karlův kopec above Rožnov pod Radhoštěm and was only completed in 2011. However, Dušan Jurkovič designed it back in 1896.

According to his design, shelters in Pustevny, spa buildings in Luhačovice, and the building of the suspended cable car on Lomnický štít were also built.

You can get to the lookout tower from the parking lot, which is designated for the Wallachian Open-Air Museum. A relatively steep yet short path leads to it. If you are going on vacation with children, it is possible to go to the Jurkovič Lookout Tower even with a stroller, but a baby carrier is more suitable.

Admission to Jurkovič Lookout Tower (Updated may 2020)

• Children under 6 years free
• 6 to 18 years 20 CZK
• Adults 40 CZK
• Seniors over 60 years 20 CZK
• Family admission 80 CZK (parents and max. 4 children)

Before your trip, don’t forget to check the weather so you can enjoy the view 🙂

Wallachian Open-Air Museum

The Wallachian Open-Air Museum is one of four open-air museums in the Czech Republic and is among the largest outdoor museums in Central Europe.

It consists of three parts: the Mill Valley, the Wallachian Village, and the Wooden Town. Admission to each part costs 80-100 CZK. The most extensive part is the Wallachian Village, and if we were to recommend only one part to visit, definitely come here.

When you enter the Wallachian Village, you feel as if you’ve stepped back a few centuries into an original Wallachian village. You’ll find buildings of both landowners and landless peasants here, as well as a school building and a pub.

During the tour, you will probably also see a shepherd with his flock of sheep. Most of the buildings here are original but were relocated here; some structures are replicas created according to archives and field research. The tour will take you 1.5 – 2 hours, refreshments are available on site.

If you have a stroller with you, we recommend visiting the Wooden Town, which is smaller, but you can easily move around with a stroller here.

Pustevny

Pustevny is one of the most visited parts of Beskydy and is located on the border of the Moravian-Silesian and Zlín Regions near the mythical Radhošť mountain.

Jurkovič Shelters

In Pustevny, you will find the famous Jurkovič Shelters, as accommodation for tourists was once called. Dušan Jurkovič built two accommodation and hospitality buildings here in the folk Art Nouveau style, which were named Libušín and Maměnka. These fairytale buildings attract tourists to Pustevny in both summer and winter months. They have stood here since 1899.

Valaška Trail

A few steps beyond Pustevny, you’ll find a relatively new skywalk called Valaška Trail, which takes you above the treetops. From the trail, there are beautiful views of Beskydy, but be prepared for a high admission fee (family 600 CZK).

Radegast Statue

From Pustevny, you can head to the Radegast statue, which you’ll find on the way to Radhošť. The path is also suitable for strollers.

Radhošť Peak

If the walk to Radegast isn’t enough for you, you can continue further to Radhošť Peak. If the weather is good, you will see not only the entire Beskydy and Wallachia from here, but also Jeseníky, Malá Fatra, and Veľká Fatra.

Today, the Chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius from the late 19th century stands on Radhošť. Unfortunately, the view of the chapel is somewhat marred by a television transmitter, which was built right next to it in 1931.

How to get to Pustevny

You can get to Pustevny in several ways.

• If you don’t have a dog like us, you can take the cable car from Trojanovice (parking opposite Hotel Ráztoka).
• You can also drive to Pustevny, but parking cost us 150 CZK during the weekend. On weekdays, parking is 100 CZK.
• Buses to Pustevny run from Frenštát pod Radhoštěm (Trojanovice stop near Hotel Ráztoka) and from the Rožnov pod Radhoštěm bus station.

If you have a bike with you, you can go to Pustevny via cycling route number 6017 or 46, where the upper cable car station is located.

Current Weather in Pustevny

Hukvaldy

The largest ruin in Moravia can be found near Rožnov pod Radhoštěm on an elongated hill located above the village of Hukvaldy. Hukvaldy is primarily known as the birthplace of the Czech composer Leoš Janáček.

The first mentions of the castle date back to the end of the 13th century. The best-preserved part of the castle is the Chapel of St. Andrew, which, however, was built only in the 17th century. Before you head to Beskydy, check if there are any events planned here. They host spooky nights, wine harvests, pilgrimages, as well as fencing performances and treasure hunts.

Satiny Waterfalls

The magical small waterfalls in the heart of Beskydy are an ideal trip if it’s too hot, or if the weather is unfavorable and visibility is too low.

They are located in a 15 m deep gorge of the mountain stream Satiny and can be reached in several ways. You can take the orange or yellow bear trail, but if you don’t have time, stairs lead directly to them from the road.

Wooden Church of Saint Frederick

The charming and somewhat mysterious wooden Church of Saint Frederick is located in the village of Bílá. It was built between 1873-1874 by the Archbishop of Olomouc and stands out significantly from other churches in the area in terms of both appearance and construction.

Various myths circulate about the church. One says that it was built according to a Nordic model, which the Archbishop of Olomouc purchased at the World Exhibition in Vienna. For its construction, a very unusual design for Czech standards was chosen, called stavkirche. This construction was used in Norway in the 11th century.

Příbor

If you are going on a longer vacation to Beskydy, be sure to also stop in the birthplace of the world-renowned psychologist Sigmund Freud. In Příbor, you will find two exhibitions dedicated to him. One is in his birth house on Zámenická Street, and the other can be found in the Memorial Hall of the local museum.

Štramberk

This romantic town in the Nový Jičín district near Kopřivnice is primarily known in Moravia for Štramberk Ears, which is a gingerbread-dough delicacy shaped like a cone.

A local legend says that they originated during the Mongol invasion in 1241, when the enemy army set up camp at the foot of the nearby Kotouč hill. After a night storm, the inhabitants of Štramberk dug through the pond dam and flooded the camp. When the water receded, people found only sacks with salted human ears here. In memory of this event, Štramberk Ears began to be baked.

The dominant feature of the town is Štramberk Castle with its Gothic tower Trúba, which today serves as a lookout tower, in the town, you will find the Štramberk Museum and the Zdeněk Burian Museum.

Bílá Hora Lookout Tower

The 28 m lookout tower on Bílá hora hill is a very popular tourist destination from Kopřivnice and Štramberk. The concrete structure with a view of Beskydy has stood here for twenty years, and the architect of the design was Milan Šmíd. You can get here by following the blue trail from Štramberk or Kopřivnice. Both routes are approximately 2 km long. You can reach the lookout tower by bike or with a stroller.

Lysá Hora 1323 M a.S.L.

A number of trails lead to Lysá hora, the easiest one is from Visalaje following the red trail, the most popular one leads from Ostravice. The highest peak of the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy is one of the most popular tourist destinations, so it’s better to go here outside of the weekend.

Smrk

Like Lysá hora, Smrk is also one of the most visited peaks in Beskydy. If you prefer to avoid tourists, choose the yellow trail from the Šance reservoir in Staré Hamry, which is less popular. The traditional route follows the red trail from Ostravice or Čeladná. Bring snacks and plenty of water with you; by Czech standards, the route is quite demanding, and there are no refreshments along the way.

Tatra Museum Kopřivnice

In unfavorable weather, you can head to the Tatra Car Museum in Kopřivnice. The museum maps the development of the automotive industry from Austria-Hungary. You will be surprised by a collection of beautiful design cars that once influenced the development of the automotive industry worldwide.

Where to Eat and Have Good Coffee in Beskydy

In Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, we liked the cafe Balloo Coffee, where, in addition to great coffee, they also have excellent breakfasts, desserts, and soup at lunchtime. We liked it so much that we returned there not only every day but sometimes even several times.

Vegetarians will definitely head to Nashe Bistro, which you can also find in town. If you like meat, the restaurant at Hotel Endemit and Albert Málek restaurant were often recommended to us.