Visit Opava – a Historical City in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is full of smaller towns and cities that are often overshadowed by more popular destinations, yet they deserve a visit, too. One of those places is Opava, a very pleasant place located near the Polish border and not too far from Ostrava. The city has been on my list for a long time, and when I finally made it there, I was impressed from the very first moment. 

Opava is one of the most important places in Czech Silesia, with a history dating back to medieval times. It gained town rights in 1224, and for years it has been a historical capital of the region. Still today, you can find many important monuments all over the city, from Gothic to 20th-century sites. The city is even known as the white gem of Silesia. 

With its proximity to Ostrava and good train connections between the cities, visiting Opava is very easy, and you should definitely include it in your Czech itinerary. Here’s your guide to Opava, Czech Republic!

Where is Opava

Opava, a city of around 55,000 inhabitants, is located in the northeast of the Czech Republic, right at the border with Poland. Prague, the capital of the country, is 300 km west; Ostrava is a bit over 30 km east, and Olomouc is 90 km south of Opava. 

How to get to Opava

The best way to get to Opava is by train from Ostrava. There are frequent trains between the cities (usually twice per hour), and the travel time is about half an hour, making Opava a perfect day trip from Ostrava. Most trains to Opava depart from Ostrava-Svinov station, but fortunately, the place is well connected to the rest of the city. In Opava, you will arrive at Opava Vychod station, which is only a few steps away from the Old Town and all the attractions. You can check the train schedule here.

Where to stay in Opava

If you want to stay overnight in Opava, there are a few fine accommodation options to choose from. Here are the recommended ones:

• Hotel Kramer (9.5/10)
• Hotel Iberia (8.9/10)
• KATERAIN hotel (8.7/10)
• and more!

What to see in Opava

After a short walk from the train station, you will reach the park surrounding the Old Town. In the past, this was where the city’s fortifications stood, but in the 19th century, the area was rebuilt and turned into a public green space. It’s such a pleasant place and a perfect start to your Opava sightseeing. That’s also where you will find the first Opava attractions, such as the Church of St. John the Baptist (originally from the 14th century, with further reconstructions) or the so-called “bird hill”, with a sculpture of two big sparrows. 

A bit behind the Church of St. John the Baptist, in the corner of the park, you can visit the Silesian Museum. Located in the beautiful grand building from the late 19th century, this is the first museum in the Czech Republic, founded in 1814 in the nearby grammar school. Inside, you can see diverse yet interesting exhibitions focusing on the history and nature of the Silesia and North Moravia regions. 

The heart of Opava is the Upper Market Square (Horní náměstí). It’s been the most important place in Opava for centuries and served as the commercial heart of the city in medieval times. The best-known attraction of Opava – the town hall with its distinctive Hlaska Tower – is located here. What makes this building unique is the fact that, at first, only the Renaissance tower was built here in the 16th century. The rest of the town hall was added to the structure only in the 19th century, but the current grand building is newer, from the early 20th century. If you want to relax a bit and enjoy the atmosphere of Upper Market, there’s a really good cafe – Kupkafe – located in the town hall, on the right side of the building. 

Across the Town Hall, still on Upper Market Square, there’s another place worth seeing –  the Silesian Theater. The neo-Renaissance building dates back to the end of the 19th century, but the theater itself was founded in 1805 and is one of the oldest institutions of this kind in the Czech Republic. 

Next to the Silesian Theater, you can find one of the most impressive buildings in Opava – the Co-cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The massive red-brick structure was built in the early 14th century and is a perfect example of the medieval Gothic style.

There are three naves and two towers – the southern one, with its Baroque addition, is 102 meters tall, making it the tallest church tower in Silesia; it is even taller than the castle tower in Prague. Unfortunately, the co-cathedral was closed during my visit, but I can only imagine how beautiful it might be inside. 

While the Upper Market Square is the heart of the city, the nearby Lower Market Square is actually the more beautiful of the two. It is surrounded by historic townhouses with colorful facades; there is also the Baroque St. Adalbert’s Church from the 17th century and the St. Mary’s Column, typical of the region.

The highlight of the square, however, is the cute yet controversial little sculpture of the so-called “spy from Opava” (which looks like an anteater). It was created by the famous artist František Skála from Prague and installed in Opava in 2003.

The Old Town of Opava is rather small, but, as in other places in the region, it’s packed with winding lanes, beautiful pastel townhouses, and charming corners. Wandering around here is a real pleasure. My favorite streets to explore in Opava were Ostrožná, Hrnčířská, and Masarykova.

On the last one, you can find the Church of the Holy Spirit, one of the most important and oldest sacred places in the city, dating back to 1290. It is believed that in its underground, members of the Bohemian royal Přemyslid dynasty were buried. Another legend about the Church of the Holy Spirit says that in the 19th century Ludwig van Beethoven attended a concert here, but he didn’t like the performance, so he played the music himself. Across the street from the church, you can see a beautiful Baroque Sobek’s Palace from 1733, which is now privately owned.

While most of Ostrava’s attractions are in the Old Town, there are a few interesting places worth seeing not far from it, too. The most impressive one is the former department store Breda, designed by the Viennese architect Leopold Bauer and built in 1928 in the Art Deco style. When it opened, it was the most modern department store in the Czech Republic, so it’s really sad to see it so neglected and abandoned now.

Fans of 20th-century architecture will also appreciate a modernist commercial building located across the street from the Breda department store. A bit farther away, there is also the unique St. Hedwig Church, built in 1937 and designed by Leopold Bauer, too. 

What to see near Opava

If you travel around by car, 7 km east of Opava, you can visit the impressive Kravaře Castle. The history of the place dates back to the 14th century, but the castle had a rather unlucky history, mainly with fires destroying the place. The recent reconstruction took place between 1955 and 1971, and today the Kravaře Castle is home to a museum and a restaurant. 

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Further reading

I published many articles about the Czech Republic that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:

• 2 Days in Prague Itinerary
• Holesovice – a mini guide to Prague’s coolest district
• 17 Great Things to Do in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
• 13 Amazing Things to Do in Pilsen, Czech Republic
• Karlovy Vary Itinerary. What to Do in Karlovy Vary in 3 Days
• 20 Great Things to Do in Brno, Czech Republic
• What to See in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
• Visit Kromeriz, Czech Republic – the UNESCO Castle and More
• Visit Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic – the UNESCO spa town
• and more!

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in Central Europe and ask your questions there.

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• Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on Bloglovin to get updates about the new posts
• Join my Facebook group about Eastern Europe, the Balkans and former USSR and connect with fellow travellers and enthusiasts of these regions – just click here!
• I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to the Czech Republic too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!

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