Rožnov pod Radhoštěm
Nestled
in the picturesque Beskydy Mountains in Northern Moravia,
the town of Rožnov pod Radhoštěm is located about
200 miles east of Prague, in the Wallachia region (Valašsko).
The
town's main draw is the Valašské muzeum v přírodě (Wallachian
Open-Air Museum),
which contains traditional Wallachian houses and
farms from the 18th - 20th centuries, collected from around
the surrounding villages. The museum
consists of Dřevěné městečko (Wooden Town), Valašská
dědina (Wallachian Village), and Mlýnská dolina (Mill
Valley). Even if you visit just one of the areas, you'll get a good idea of what this region looked like in the past. |
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The Jurkovič Tower was built in 2012 and is now a popular sight to visit in Rožnov. Aside from its architectural value, it draws visitors for the beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding area. The tower was constructed according to the original architectural design made by Slovak architect Dušan Jurkovič more than a hundred years before.
The view tower is located on Charles Hill (Karlův kopec). The trailhead starts at the large parking lot near the Wallachian Open-Air Museum. Expect a 20-minute moderate climb through the woods to reach the tower.
A 45 - 60 min. bus ride from Rožnov will get you to Pustevny, a mountain resort with several restaurants and hotels from where you can head out on a 9-kilometer hike to Mount Radhošť (1129 m/3700 ft). If you don't feel like going all the way or if you're short on time, you can at least walk to the statue of the mountains' legendary pagan god Radegast.
The famous local beer, one of the best in the Czech Republic,
is named after him. The hike from Pustevny to the statue takes about half an hour.
Unless you came to Pustevny by car, make sure you make it back from your hike in time for the last bus to take you back to Rožnov. Pustevny is also serviced by a chair lift from Trojanovice near Frenštát pod Radhoštěm.
If you are traveling from Prague, you can be in Rožnov in about 4.5 hours by train, with a transfer in Valašské Meziříčí. It is a long but easy trip and it is definitely worth it. To look up train and bus connections to Rožnov, please
use the
website below.
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