Situated along the picturesque banks of the Morava River in the heart of the historical region of Moravia, Kromeriz is a captivating historic town that seamlessly combines grand residence architecture, UNESCO-listed landscape gardens, and a rich cultural heritage. Located in the Zlin Region of the Czech Republic, approximately 60 kilometers northeast of Brno and 260 kilometers east of Prague, the city has evolved over centuries from a strategic market settlement into one of Central Europe’s most significant cultural and ecclesiastical centers.

The history of Kromeriz dates back to the early Middle Ages when a trade settlement was established near a ford across the Morava River. In the early 12th century, the site was acquired by the Bishops of Olomouc, who transformed the settlement into an important administrative and religious stronghold. The town officially gained market rights in 1260 under Bishop Bruno of Schauenburg, who constructed a medieval castle on the site of the current palace. Over subsequent centuries, despite suffering damage during the Hussite Wars and the Thirty Years’ War, the town flourished through imperial patronage and art collection, earning the nickname “Athens of Hanakia” due to its elevated cultural status within the surrounding Hanak region.

The city’s most recognizable landmark is the Archbishop Palace, a massive Baroque structure built in the late 17th century by Bishop Karl von Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn after earlier structures were destroyed. Serving as the primary summer residence of the Olomouc bishops and archbishops, the palace houses an extraordinary art gallery featuring original works by Renaissance masters, including Titian’s famous painting The Flaying of Marsyas, alongside an extensive historic library of over 80,000 volumes and rare musical scores by composers such as Pavel Josef Vejvanovsky and Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber. The grand Assembly Hall inside the palace also held historic political importance as the venue for the Austrian Constituent Imperial Diet in 1848.

Flanking the palace are two magnificent green spaces that contribute immensely to the city’s international distinction: the Castle Garden and the Flower Garden. The Castle Garden extends directly from the palace down to the Morava River, displaying a naturalistic English landscape design filled with romantic pavilions, ponds, and centuries-old trees. In contrast, the nearby Flower Garden, created between 1665 and 1675, represents a pristine, intact example of early Baroque landscape architecture, characterized by geometric hedge mazes, a 244-meter colonnade adorned with statues of classical deities, and a central rotunda housing a Foucault pendulum. Together with the Archbishop Palace, both gardens were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.

Beyond its world-famous gardens and palace, the historic center offers further opportunities to discover the city’s architectural and urban heritage. Velke Namesti, the main town square, features well-preserved burgher houses with Renaissance arcades, a prominent historic town hall, and an ornate Marian plague column dating to 1680. Visitors can explore historic churches such as the Gothic Church of Saint Maurice or the Baroque Church of Saint John the Baptist, sample regional specialties at local microbreweries, and experience cultural festivals held throughout the year.

The Morava River and surrounding Hanakia landscape play an essential role in the city’s serene atmosphere and recreation. Riverside paths offer pleasant cycling and walking routes, while the flat terrain of the Moravian plains invites easy excursions to nearby nature reserves and historic villages. Combining centuries of preserved royal history, exceptional art collections, world-renowned gardens, and a lively local culture in the Zlin Region, Kromeriz provides a deeply rewarding experience for travelers exploring the Czech Republic.

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Kromeriz

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