Water
Sportsmen’s Paradise Refound – this is how the Morava River
basin in the Olomouc Region could be renamed, and without
exaggeration. Boaters in the Czech Republic know well the
beauty and uniqueness of the portions of the Morava River
where it flows through the alluvial woods of the Litovel Morava
Riverlands and the old city of Olomouc. It is said that to
view the world by boat is at least as lovely and revealing
as from the saddle. Each visitor to and citizen of the Olomouc
area has the opportunity to judge that maxim for his or herself
at any time during the water sports season.
They can set off on any hour-long cruise along the Morava
River and Mlýnský potok (Millrace) in comfortable eight-person
rafts helmed by an instructor, which also are suitable for
absolute beginners.
The 1st cruise, 3 km, begins on the main branch of the Morava
River at the new bridge in Olomouc – Černovír. It passes
under four bridges around the monumental Baroque Hradisko
monastery complex and the Orthodox Church at Gorazdovo Square
to the confluence of the Morava and Bystřice rivers.
The 2nd cruise is also 3 km long and begins at the Mlýnský
potok (a branch of the Morava River) at the Financial Office
at Olomouc – Lazce. During the cruise you can view the large
part of the preserved town walls. The cruise will take you
around the remains of the Romanesque Přemyslid Castle, the
Neo-Gothic St. Wenceslas Cathedral, and further on past
Bezruč Park where there is a lovely view of the Baroque
Church of St. Michael and a number of other monuments. By
the time you disembark near the town market, you will have
passed under a total of 11 bridges.
The 3rd cruise, 8 km, begins at the Olomouc – Chomoutov
bridge and goes through the flat Morava River valley in
the southeast part of the Litovel Morava Riverlands. After
five kilometres it connects to the 1st cruise in Černovír.
Romantics and those who enjoy fine moments will take advantage
of the offer of night cruises through magic illuminated
Olomouc or with musical accompaniment.
For
those of you for whom a one-hour cruise is not enough, day
cruises on the Litovel Morava Riverlands Protected Nature
Area are possible, in a rubber raft with an instructor at
the helm along the most beautiful stretches of this pristine
natural park.
Another, but no less attractive, cruise is possible along
the majestic Bečva River through the famous Moravian Gate,
from Teplice nad Bečvou to Týn nad Bečvou, 11 km down the
river.
For real water sportsmen there are other ideal and interesting
cruises along the upper Morava River. One such is a cruise
through the section Hanušovice – Bartoňov – Postřelmov –
Lukavice, including numerous meanders. Another favourite
is the 22 km-long cruise from the Penzion Haj in Mohelnice
all the way to Litovel, including the entire northern portion
of the Litovel Morava Riverlands preserve.
All
the cruises above can be ordered via the Olomouc travel
agency Peřej Tours (http://www.perej.cz,
tel.: +420 585 314 087).
