Locality and commune of Lipová-lázně

Lipová-lázně is a picturesque lying locality in the valley of the small river called Staříč on the border of mountain ranges of High Jesionik (Hrubý Jeseník) and the Rychlebské Mountains (Rychlebské Hory). It has a mountainous character, what confirms its position and considerable differences of the height. The centre-piece of the locality lies at an altitude of 498 m above sea level, and the nearby top of Šerák (spelled: Sheruk) 1351 m above sea level Lipová is a part of the Jeseník region, and as regards its administrative situation- a part of the Olomunec Province. Historically belongs to the territory of Silesia, whereat the western border of the commune creates the border between Silesia and Moravia. In the west, in the point called Smrk -hraničník it meets a border with Poland.
There are 2 500 inhabitants of the commune and it came into being as result of the connection of two independent administrative units: Horní and Dolní Lipová Upper and Lower Lipová. It is a centre of the summer- tourism thanks to the dense network of pedestrian and bicycle tourist routs. In winter, two ski resorts and numerous run routs lying on its area assure good conditions to do winter sports. Lipová-lázně is also a profitably situated sally- point to the organization of excursions during which you get the feel of natural, cultural and historic attractions of the Jeseník region.
Interesting places being found on the area of the commune are following: On Pomezí Caves, being famous for its rich karst- forms; the mountain Šerák (1 351 m above sea level) to which the chair funicular leads from Ramzová, the excellent vantage point; Obří skály Rocks of the Giant on slopes of Šerák and several protected areas and objects.
The locality is also well known from spa lying on its area which is visited by over 3 000 patients every year. Cutaneous (the psoriasis, eczemas) diseases are treated in and disturbances in metabolism (diabetes, stoutness). There is a park in spa with rare kinds of trees, with monuments and many objects of spa with interesting architecture.
Lipová-lázně offers numerous possibilities of lodging and boarding for tourists. There is comparatively a lot of parking space on the area of the commune. The locality is well communicated with a region; it is easy to get there by train and by bus.

History of the commune
If we want to look into history of the commune of Lipová-lázně, we must first recognize history of two, earlier independent, localities of: Horní Lipová and Dolní Lipová.
The first mention about Dolní Lipová comes from the year 1290. This settlement was called then Lynda. In the course of centuries, its toponym changed several times, however a word “lime” was always its base. The following written information originate from years 1372, 1420 and 1550 and tell about her inhabitants who gradually peopled a valley of the small river Staříč.
In the year 1547, land estates of Frývaldov (Freiwaldau) were found under direct administration of the Wroclavian bishopric, one began to gain more intensely wood, and dug up grounds were changed into fields.
The wartime of thirty-year war Lipová survived without greater pogroms. In that time it was the second, regarding its size, locality of the Jeseník lands.
Trials of Inquisition were the tragic period for the settlement in which nine local women were sentenced to auto-da-fe for witchery.
The local population was of German origin, except for agriculture and forestry they dealt with weaving. The greatest development of this craft followed in the XVII and XVIII centuries. In that period, one began dig marble on the area and calcify lime. Lipová was also famous for sculpturing. However, the Silesian wars in the years 1740-1763 meant times of the instability for the whole region and brought local inhabitants the still greater poverty.
An extraordinary development of the locality started at the beginning of the XIX century, first thanks to spa that was founded by Johann Schroth. In that time, Lower Lipová, counting over 2000 inhabitants, was one of the most crowded localities in the Jeseník region. There was also the glass-works, the only one on Silesia which did not work however too long. Later on, the foundry worked there, which after the First World War specialized in fittings production. In 1887, the railway line construction was initiated there. Thus, the contemporary Frývaldov region was connected with Prussian- Austrian trackage.
The local German population did not accept the beginning of Czechoslovakia in 1918 with an enthusiasm. An affluence of the Czech population was however slow. In 1924-1938, a Czech school worked there. The German school had existed in the locality already since 1786. A building of the present school originates from 1941. The economic crisis of thirties of the XX century had negative influence for life of local inhabitants. On 25th, November 1931 the strike of stonecutters exploded there, which ended tragically on a crossing close by a post-office. The end of thirties passed under the sign of increasing into the power of the movement of German nationalists from Henlein’s SdP. After a conference in Munich, the Republic of Czechoslovakia became forced to return the borderlands to Germany, and the Czech population was displaced. The locality became liberated on 8 May 1945. Thereupon first Czech inhabitants moved to Lipová, the year later, in compliance with agreements from the Poczdam’s conference, displacing of inhabitants of the German nationality started. The new settlement and political changes that meant introduction of the socialist system had an important meaning for Lipová. Spa became nationalized, from the former mason’s industry only stone crusher plant remained on Pomezí; new quarries on Smrčník were opened over Lipová. A factory of fittings was included to the huge company Ore Mines and changed its profile to the production of parts and building elements. At present, the company belongs to MORAVOLESK a.s. Brno. Localities of Dolní Lipová and Horní Lipová were joined in 1960, and the new locality received the name Lipová - lázně.
The Upper Lipová locality came into being probably after the thirty-year war, and in historic sources appears for the first time in 1689 as Oberlindewiesse. The oldest monument of Upper Lipová, which is a stone- sign with an inscription Scholtiesy (a mark of a building of the former office of the village administrator), originates from the year 1696. In the latter part of the XVIII century, the great height in number of inhabitants followed, thanks to the great return of pastures into the hereditament. More and more higher situated parts of the river valley of Staříč were colonized on which lackland peasantry and petty farmers settled themselves. In the XIX century, the meaning of the quarry of the marble increased and Upper Linden, beside Supíkovic, became the most important place of digging of Silesian marble. Except farms there were also a gamekeeper’s cottage, a mill and a sawmill, a pub worked, their own services offered a butcher, a shoemaker, a carpenter, a tailor and other craftsmen. A school was established in 1820.
At the beginning of the XX century and because of wars the number of inhabitants of Upper Lipová dropped. In a period of the Second World War, there was a prison camp on the area of the locality. Nowadays many recreational cottages and holiday camps could be found in Upper Lipová.

Spa
Aseparate chapter of Lipová history is the beginning of local spa. Its beginnings are inseparably connected with a name of its founder, the healer Johann Schroth who was born on 11 February 1798 in Česká Ves. After he had moved to Lower Lipová, he became an owner of a farm of his own stepfather. He gained the large experience at work with horses and quickly gained a reputation of a healer of domestic animals. When he was twenty, he started to use its own experience, helping also people. He knew to set bones and treat fractures, using slates. Later, he began treatment with compresses and steam perspiring. These were first curative methods of Schroth. Following was the usage of compresses on the whole body, and a third manner – rigorous diet. The treatment demanded from patients of the strong will and self-abnegation. The competitors ironically called him „a rolled doctor”, because charged efficient and outright drastic cures that consisted of „dry” and „drinkable” days. As the beginning of the use of these curative methods some sources indicate the year 1829, and the others: 1837, however only in 1840 Schroth received officially the permissive decree on the leadership of the treatment in spa. At the beginning, he cured only tens persons to which he traveled far. Gradually, number of his patients increased and in 1842, Johann Schroth built the first house of spa, which was called Grundungshaus. Johann Schroth died on 26 March 1856 aged 58 years. His successor and a new owner was Schroth’s son - Emmanuel (1832-1890). He softened drastic curative father’s methods, what contributed to the enlargement of the number of patients. Not only he well mastered the treatment with the Schroth’s method, but was also a good businessperson. During his activities the spa considerably grew, it was well organized and accepted worked out again regulations of the treatment. In 1879, Emmanuel Schroth ordered to build a house of spa called Directionshaus (later called Arztehaus) and Doktorhaus (later - Villa Westen). From the year, 1868 originates Restaurationshaus (Kurrestaurant) which burnt down in 1944. A wife of Emmanuel Louise ordered in 1893 to build the modern building Louisenhof (Luisa), in 1898 Theresienhof (Terezinka), Sudetenhof (Silesian House), and still later Villa Grohmann was erected (Moravanka). Their son Rochus, who succeeded to the family estate, transformed it into the joint stock company. After his death in 1937, spa was taken over by a joint stock company of a factory owner- Westen. In that time in Lower Lipová appeared the following well-known personage, a doctor Max Mader who after the First World War built a modern, luxurious sanatorium - today the Šerák house of spa. Except Mader, doctor Karl Schroth the junior worked also in local spa who led spa until his own death in 1946. In the interwar- period Lipová became a popular health-resort attracting guests from the country and foreign lands. The fame of that place stretched from the United States to the United Arab Emirates. During the Second World War, the activity of spa was limited, because one transformed it into the military hospital. In 1949, spa became nationalized, and in 1957 was organizationally engaged to spa in Jeseník. In the fifties and sixtieth of the XX century, stoutness was cured there, and later one introduced the treatment of diabetes. Today, spa belongs to a private company Schroth. First of all metabolic disorder, cutaneous diseases, illnesses of the digestive system and blood vascular systems are treated there. In last years, spa in Lipová has offered together 230 beds, and over five thousand of patients visit it every year. The most modern methods and curative (massages, hydropathy, and paraffin- compresses) devices are used there. Lipová’s spa helps to recover for many patients every year.

Curiosities and ancient monuments

Bobrovník
The recreational settlement situated directly at Jeseník, in most advanced to the east part of the commune. There are a restaurant, a shanty and a car camping.
What regards nature, that is a place of occurrence of the bog- vegetation and water-continental animals, that area is also a place of nesting and resting of the wandering fowl. This is the unique natural area being a component of The Landscape Park Jeseniki.
Lime-tree on Bobrovník
An antique tree - a monument of nature, being found on a yard of a cottage No. 2, at the right side, close by barn. The circuit of its trunk is 320 cm, its height 28 m, and its age – c.a. 160 years.
Monument of the Frývaldov's Strike
It is situated at a crossing close by a post, in the lower part of the locality. It is classified as the national monument and - together with the less self-evident marble- commemorative plaque on a post building - reminds about the tragical encounter of demonstrating masons with the gendarmerie on 25.11.1931. A sculpture of bronze is a work of the academic sculptor Rudolph Doležal and has been exposed in 1961.
Frývaldov's lime-tree
An antique tree - a monument of nature, being found next to the monument of the Frývaldov’s Strike, of a circuit of 310 cm and height 22 m. Its age is estimated at 170 years.
Building of the former office of the village administrator
It is placed next to a post building. This is the neoclassical building from the turn of the XVIII and XIX centuries with richly adorned top. Today, there is a restaurant „Na Rychtě“.
Freedom lime-tree
Next to a bridge, leading to spa, the Freedom Lime-tree grows which new inhabitants of the locality planted on 28.10.1945.
Spa
It consists of a nicely well-kept park with numerous sorts of decorative plants and the complex of spa’s buildings, mostly from the end of the XIX century. To the oldest belongs so-called Grundungshaus, erected by a founder of spa Johan Schroth in 1842. There is a commemorative board on the building. The other houses of spa are the following: Terezinka, Petruška, Moravanka, Maries, Šerák and others. In a spa’s park, there are also two monuments. One of them is a monument of Johann Schroth, offered to the founder of spa by grateful patients, put in 1870 with an inscription on a plinth: „In the moist warmth well are wood, emblements, wine, and even meat and bones. Benefactors of the mankind 1870”. The second monument standing next to a wooden building over a small river called Staříč – it is a bust of Emmanuel Schroth from the year 1894, authorships of a sculptor Stahl, cut out in local marble.
Church
A uni-nave church of St. Wenceslas from about 1788 is a typical monument from Josephine’s times. It was erected during one year. From the original interior only organ and a marble- font remained, the works of a Lipová’s mason Kaspar Groger. A wooden cross replaced an original altar with crucified Christ, supplemented with wooden sculptures of Painful Virgin Mary, Saint John Evangelist, St. Joseph and St. Adalbert. The church is sacred to a patron of the Czech Republic- St. Wenceslas, what is rareness on Silesia.
Ash-tree behind the church
A tree - a monument of nature, standing at a field- way, of a circuit of 425 cm and 26 m of height. Its age is estimated at 210-260 years.
Tomb of a founder of spa Johann Schroth and Monument of Reconciliation
Both these ancient monuments are placed on a local cemetery. The tomb of the founder of spa and his descendants is to the right side from an entrance. The Monument of Reconciliation stands at a main way of the cemetery to the left side from a crucifix. It comes from the year 2000 and was erected in remembrance of all Germans from Lipová who died on battle- fields of the XX century. It was erected for money collected by former inhabitants of Lipová.
Crux of Mary Clara Fietz
A crux is found in a garden at the way opposite a crossing to Miroslav and reminds a birthplace of the fellow citizen from Lipová, the nun Mary Clara Fietz (1905-1937). At present, efforts last for announcing her blessed.
Miroslav
This is an area of forests and meadows next to non-existent already sediment of the same name, until today the only one building remained – the Opavská cottage that exemplifies the former country- architecture.
In addition, a ski resort is given the same name, wherein there are four ski lifts and good downhill skiing routs, the whole- year boarding house and a restaurant and a buffet. In summer time, this centre is a place of many concerts, cultural and sociable events, including elections of Miss of Wet Undershirt, a folk festival called Jesenik’s nuget, the rock event called Rock revival fest and others. There are also organized contests of draught- dogs - Lipovský pukliny.
Spruce with a small picture on Miroslav
A tree - a monument of nature, growing at a forest- way c.a. 200 m over the centre Miroslav. There is a small saint picture on it that reminds about the bad luck that took place there. A circuit of its trunk is 292 cm, and its height reaches 33 m, its age c.a. 120 - 150 years.

Horní Lipová












Until the year 1960, an independent locality, does not have too many ancient monuments. The most important of them is a stone- sign in a shape of a baroque- cartouche with an inscription „Scholtisey 1696“, being found in the interior of the building No. 36. It is also worth to see the former country- building -wooden cottages which once were a typical element of the local scenery.

Museum of Silesian Semmering
The museum exposition is found in the former central control room of the railway station Upper Lipová. The museum shows history of the mountain section of the railway line Branná - Ostružná - Ramzová - Horní Lipová which conquers considerable differences of the height and thanks to its own resemblance to the mountain sections of railway lines at the foot of Alps on the line Vienna-Milan was called Silesian Semmering. In the museum, there are showed safety and control devices of the railway line, models, documents, tickets and signaling sources. Entering, after co-ordination with a stationmaster, on working days from 5:00 to 22:00. Sightseeing- it is best to notify earlier.

Lime-tree at a railway station
A tree - a monument of nature behind a house No. 112 below a railway station of Upper Lipová, to the left side close by a viaduct. A circuit of a trunk is 465 cm, and a height 24 m, its age c.a. 300 years.

IT IS WORTH A VISIT
Dlouhé Stráně
Pumped storage power station Dlouhé Stráně on the brook Divoká Desná, not far the locality of Loučná upon Desná, c.a. 30 km from Lipová. Its power is 650 Megawatts. The process of energy production takes place as result of pumping of water from a lower reservoir into an upper, when it is an excess of energy in a net, and then lowering of water from the upper reservoir to lower one through a turbine when energy demands grows up. The upper reservoir is ahigh 1350 m above sea level, water is driven into turbines by two pipelines of a diameter of 3, 6 m and a length of 1, 5 km. Both two-way- aggregates, every one of a power of 325 Megawatts, are placed in an underground hall of a length of 87 m, a width of 25, 5 m and a height of 50 m. In an underground chamber, there are also situated block- transformers, and additionally there are communication, technological and ventilation tunnels- and galleries of a joint length of 8, 5 km. The underground power station is joined with a lower reservoir by two effluent tunnels. The power is driven through underground cables of 400 kV.
If you wish to see the power station, you could take part in sightseeing tour of that object organized by the ENERGOTIS Company.

Velké Losiny
A locality mentioned in the half of the XIV century, being a part of the fortune of Lords from Žerotín. In years 1678-1693, the main arena of witches’ trials. There is a spa in the locality with hydrosulfuric springs. A treatment of neuroinfection effects is a specialization of spa.

Workshop of handmade paper in Velké Losiny is the unique one in the Czech Republic. Production of paper takes place in incessantly already 400 years with maintenance of the original technology.
A castle dates from the end of the XVI century and belongs to the best-kept late-Renaissance ancient monuments of the Czech Republic. You ca admire there an extraordinary collection of Flemish and Northern-French gobelinry. It is also worth to walk through the castle’s park from the half of the XVIII century, wherein you can admire 140 sorts of coniferous and deciduous trees.

The castle Kolštejn - relatively well kept remains of the castle over a valley of the brook Branná. It was build as a defensive castle on a commercial way from Moravia to Silesia. The first mention dates from the year 1325. The castle changed its owners many times who rebuilt it. In the XIX century, it was rented for different purposes, and later on rebuilt into a school and communal housings. In 1926, it burnt down. In the latter part of the 20th century, one began its reconstruction.

Didactic path Pasák is found on the area of The Landscape Park Jeseniki and it has a length of 12, 5 km. 14 thematic information boards create the path which present history of the surroundings of Branná (railway, timber floating, border’s consolidations, mining) and nature of that region, wherein there are many rocky forms - examples of the erosion caused with ice and frost.











RYCHLEBSKÉ HORY (Mountains Rychlebské)
Foothills lying mainly on an area of western Silesia. It borders the ranges of Snieznik, Jeseniki and Opawskie Mountains. A name of that mountain range descends from the name of Rychleby castle’s remains not far from Javorník. The main range runs along a border with Poland and has an average height of 644 m above sea level. Mostly, it is a bosky with spruces area, however also significant are mixed forests. Rychlebské Mountains could be divided into a part near Lipová, Travna and the Hawk’s Hogback over Jeseník.
The greatest tops and the greatest differentiation, being found in the south-west part of the foothills, with the highest mountain Smrk (1125 m above sea level), characterize the “Lipová” part. The main hogback is also the main European watershed Odra-Danube. Interesting places in Lipová’s part are following: Ztracené údolí Lost Valley between Lipová and Vápenná, besides Nýznerowské waterfalls, the mount Smrčník over Lipová with a quarry, wherein limestone is dug, and caves “On Pomezí”. In the whole range, there are only two tourist shelters. The well-known shelter is Paprsek under a top of Výhled (1030 m above sea level). The second, which is less -known is a shelter onto Smrčník (nowadays closed).
The part near the locality Travná is a lowest part of Mountains Rychlebské, situated in their Northern part. A highest top is Špičák (957 m above sea level). There are many magic and picturesque places, as sunken quarries and rocks and ruins of the castle Rychleby.
Sokolský hřbet Hawk’s Hogback leaves perpendicularly from the main range, and its average height is 607 m above sea level .The highest top is Studnièný Vrch (991 m above sea level), in its surroundings there are many springs and wells. No wonder that just there Vincent Priessnitz founded the first hydrotherapeutic institution on the world - spa Jeseník (Gräfenberg).
The Mountains Rychlebské has a relatively important natural value. To the smaller protected areas belong: National Monuments of Nature- caves Na Pomezí and caves Na Spičáku. In the category of ancient monuments of nature, it also necessary to mention such protected areas, as Píšťala and Nýznerowské Waterfalls. Close to Javorník, there is the Sanctuary Račí údolí Valley of Cancers.
In the mountains Rychlebské you can plan many interesting routs, whether it is short one- day excursion, whether a few -days excursion. More and more cycle routs start to be popular. These mountains are also unusually beautiful in winter and many routs could be then conquered on running skis.

Rychleby
Ruins of a Gothic castle from about XIII century, which was a defensive castle at a trade route from Nysa to Hradec Králové. In the XV century, it remained abandoned and deteriorated. Until today, remains of defense walls left and towers which were rebuilt into vantage points


Silver- Stream Waterfalls (Nýznerowské waterfalls)
They are situated 2 km from Nýznerov. The protected area covers 12 hectares. A set of cascades and rocky thresholds create waterfalls in a romantic narrowing over a mouth of Budínsky potok of a joint height of 14 m, the highest single bar’s height is 3 m. Over waterfalls, there is a small vantage point, to which you can approach with stairs. In 1968, they were declared the Protected Product of Nature. The easiest access runs a forest way from Nýznerov. You can also reach them with signposted tourist route from Lipová.

Smrk (Spruce)
The highest top of Mountains Rychlebské of a height of 1125 m above sea level, lying on a border of Moravia, Silesia and Klodzko Land, which is especially marked with a three-sided hoarstone. There are peat bogs and a crossing of tourist tracks on the top.

Petříkov












A popular summer and winter holiday camp. It lies ahigh 780 m above sea level between Trnova hora (1060 m above sea level) and Klín (983 m above sea level), c.a. 11 km from Jeseník.. Originally, it was a settlement inhabited by timbermen, today this is a popular year round holiday camp with numerous boarding houses and restaurants. To Petříkov you can get on foot from Ramzová or by car by a road from Ostružná.

Paprsek
It belongs to the most popular tourist shelters; it lies on a red track, running the main hogback of Jeseniki. The shelter was opened in 1932, there is a restaurant, and there are hostel rooms. Paprsek is a popular target- point for tourists.

Caves Na Pomezí










They are situated 2 km north of locality Lipová-lázně in Mountains Rychlebské. Caves came into being in crystalline limestone and have been well known since 1936. They were opened for sightseeing only in 1955; they are famous for wealth of sinter forms found there. You can see there both gigantic stalactites, as well as wafer-thin straws, and round forms, so-called cave- pearls. Corridors of the cave expand, creating large chambers. Touring the cave, we conquer 410 m, and the whole sightseeing lasts 45 minutes. Outside of the caves, there is a large parking space, a buffet and a little shop with souvenirs. You ca get to the caves on foot by tourist routes or by train, by car whether by bus.

Caves Na Špičáku
The caves are found 1 km from the locality Písečná under the mountain Špičák (516 m above sea level). A labyrinth of corridors in Devonian marbles creates them, counting itself 350-280 millions of years. There are no sinter forms in the caves, leading through them corridors are heart-shaped or are egg-shaped. This is the oldest documentary evidenced in writing cave in Central Europe which very often served as a shelter, what testify epigraphic inscriptions on walls (the oldest from the year 1519). Visiting caves, we conquer a rout counting 230 m with no barriers (accessible for disabled).

Castle Jánský Vrch (Jan’s Hill)
A castle overmatches the town of Javorník, 25 km from Lipová-lázně. For centuries, it was a summer- residence of Wroclavian bishops. In the past, rebuilt several times, its present look obtained in the XVIII century, whenas it was rebuilt in a baroque style.
Two sightseeing routs are indicated in the castle. Collections of sculptures and pictures belong to significant ancient monuments being found in a castle’s chapel, a rarity is the greatest registered in the country collection of old pipes.

Zlaté Hory
A town inhabited by c.a. 5000 dwellers, lying at the foot of Biskupia Kopa (Bishop’s Hill) at a border with Poland, and 14 km from Jeseník. The locality for the first time was mentioned already in 1261, municipal rights received in 1306. The base of town’s development was gold digging the greatest efflorescence of which followed in the XVI century. In the XVII century, gold gaining began to come down. A tragedy for the whole region was inquisitional notorious trials. The second economic development of the town started in the XIX century along with development of textile industry. After the rising of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918, the German population of the town promoted a project on creation of the separate German state Sudetenland. In 1938, local squads of Freikorps came to close quarters with the Czech Border Defense Corps. Numerous tenements belong to ancient monuments of the town, a parish church of Assumption of Virgin Mary from the beginning of the XIX century, a little church onto the St. Roch Hill. There is a grave of victims of a march of death on a local cemetery from January 1945 and the Frost family- tomb, owners of quarries and mason’s works in the Jeseník region. In a baroque- building of the former seat of a post office from the XVII century, there is a municipal museum evidencing mining- history of the town and the years of its splendor.

Mills for gold- ore crushing are one of the greatest tourist attractions of that region. This is a part of gradually developed Skansen museum of gold mining upon Olešnica River not far from Zlaté Hory. In a valley of missing galleries, you can see a replica of water mills for gold ore crushing from the XIV century. These are fully in order devices. Observing them, we get knowledge on the gold gaining process through ore crushing, and then gold rinsing from it. The Skansen museum in future is intended to be a place of contest in gold rinsing which are already traditionally organized every year in Zlaté Hory. To Skansen museum, you can get from a main road between Ondřejovice and Zlaté Hory; you can get there also by tourist route from Zlaté Hory (2 km by a green track).

Virgin Mary Sanctuary Maria Hilf is one of the most well known places of religious worship in the Jeseník region. Its history reaches the thirty-year war period, when onto the God’s Gift Hill (Gottesgabe) Anna Tannheiser hid herself who gave there birth to her son Martin. As a thanksgiving for protection after his own birth, he ordered in a testament, to hang a picture of Virgin Mary at that place. The picture is changed copy of the picture of Madonna with Bambino from Passau. Afterwards crowds of believers began to come to the picture and pray for health. In the XVIII century on that place a chapel was built which later was replaced by a church. In neighborhood, the Cross Way was built, the following chapel and a house of a pilgrim. A war did not disturb that place; however, it came to its devastation in a period of communist dictatorship. In the beginning organizations of services was forbidden, and then in 1973 the church was blown up. Only after transformations of the year 1990, restoration of the former place of the worship began. The foundation stone for new temple consecrated on Welehrad the pope Jan Paul II, building works began in 1993, and in September 1995, the church was sacred. Services started to be celebrated in it and church fairs which are said in Czech, German and Polish. The Pilgrimage church was sacred to Virgin Mary Life Conceived Defender

Vantage tower onto Biskupia Kopa (Bishop’s Hill) is the next popular tourist place in a Zlaté Hory neighborhood. It stands on the Czech-Polish border. The tower was opened in 1898 and its height is over 19 meters. After the war, it was closed and served as a television transmitter. After repair, the tower was opened again for touring in 1998. If there is good visibility provided you can see Wroclaw from its top or tops of Slovak Tatras.

OTHER PLACES WORTH TO BE SEEN
Natural curiosities

Jeseníky
This is a name of the region the centre of which is the highest Moravian mountain range, and at the same time, second mountains of the Czech Republic as regards the height - Hrubý Jeseník High Jesionik. This mountain range, together with Rychlebské horý Rychlebské Mountains, Zlatohorska vrchovina Opawskie Mountains and Hanušovicka vrchovina Hanuszowicka Upland, Králický Sněžník Snieznik and Nízký Jeseník Low Jeseník,
create so-called the Jesenik’s region. The area of 2.900 km2, in its main part, is attractive for toursits, with round hogbacks, sharp slopes and deep valleys. Thanks to extraordinary beauty of the whole region and its gigantic natural value in 1969, The Landscape Park Jeseniki was established with an area of 740 km2.
The Landscape Park Jeseniki creates High Jesionik and the part of the Opawskie Mountains and the Hanuszowicka Upland. The highest point is a top of the Great grandfather Praděd 1491 m above sea level. The area in 80 % is covered with forests, mainly spruce or beechen, also some fragments of natural forests remained. The most valuable naturally parts of the landscape park are subject to the highest level of protection in four national sanctuaries - Praděd, Šerák - Keprník, Rejvíz, the Peatbog Skřítek, 18 Sanctuaries and six monuments of the nature. On the whole area, the guests could use a dense net of signposted tourist routs, pedestrian and cycle ones. There are also seven didactic paths indicated.

The national Sanctuary Pradziad
The sanctuary came into being in 1991 as a result of connection of six sanctuaries and covers an area of 20 km2. The rare Alpine vegetation, forest of the character of the wilderness, nival niches and many rare sorts of plants and animals could be found there.
Praděd (Great grandfather) - the highest mountain of Moravia (1492 m above sea level), the place with very severe weather condition with an average temperature 0, 9°C. In years 1912-1959, a high stone- tower measuring 32 m stood there. In 1970, one began the construction of telecommunication tower. The transmitter has a height of 162 m and serves as the weather station, in the base of which there is a restaurant, you can also take advantage of a vantage terrace. Protection of nature is based on the maintenance of Alpine and sub-Alpine ecosystems i.e. not bosky alps, natural spruces, rocks and tops.
Velká kotlina (Great Valley) - that place belongs to the most rich nature side not only in the Czech Republic, but also in Central Europe. A glacial kettle, wherein 450 plant genera remained (arcto-Alpine and thermophilic), creates the valley. Some of them do not appear anywhere else in the world. The place lies on a blue didactic track from Karlov onto Ovčárna.
Petrovy kameny (Peter’s Stones) - forms of rocks overmatching the horizon of the massif of Vysoké hole. This are so-called frost cottages (strongly eroded slate- rocks because of activity of frost), the place of occurrence of many endemic and other sorts of protected plants. Due to a risk of devastation of that place, today Petrovy kameny are inaccessible.
Bílá Opava - a deep glen along the small river Bílá Opava, leading through the romantic canyon with numerous shoots and waterfalls. By a yellow tourist route from Karlova Studánka, you can enter from that valley by wooden footbridges and stairs onto Ovčárna. A didactic path runs also that way.
Divoký důl (Wild Hole) - a deep and cut barranca of an inflow of the small river Divoka Desna. The quick mountain stream conquers the large fall with numerous cascades and rocky thresholds on its way. Divoký důl is accessible by a blue tourist route, leading from a top of the Great grandfather into the valley of the small river Desna.

The national Sanctuary Šerák - Keprník
This sanctuary , of an area over 11 km2, occupies top- parties of the north-west part of the main comb of Jeseniki ahigh 950 - 1423 m above sea level from Trojmezí to Obří skály .Rocks of Giant. It covers the tops of Vozka, Keprník and Šerák with the sub-Alpine alps, with natural spruce forests, mountain peatbogs, with dorsal meadows and sources. There appear some endangered species of birds, Sicista betulin and a lynx (Lynx lynx). An izard supplements local fauna. This is the oldest sanctuary on Moravia, confirmed by the prince Jan II from Lichtenstein in 1903. Except for signposted tourist routes, a cycle rout runs there from Běla under Praděd (from a restaurant called U Cimbury), first green one to Keprnický stream, and still blue onto Šerák.

The national Sanctuary Rejvíz











This is the greatest peatbog of Moravia and Silesia - it has an area of 350 ha. The peatbog came into being in the post-glacial era and remained thanks to the low average temperature and high falls. In the sanctuary, a didactic path was traced which starts at a boarding house called Rejvíz. The final part of the path runs a pavement of wooden balls until the great Moss Lake, which has a length of 68, 5 m, a width of 41 m and a depth almost 3 m. The thickness of the layer of the peat reaches 300 cm.
The settlement of Rejvíz is the highest situated locality on Silesia, lying ahigh 800 m above sea level Established in the latter part of the XVIII century and you can admire until today relatively well kept German folk architecture. An extraordinary place is a boarding house called Rejvíz, wherein 20 unique wooden chairs remained from the turn of the XIX and XX centuries, the work of a sculptor Alfred Brauner. There are caricatures of frequenters sculptured on backs of chairs.

The peatbog Skřítek (Gnome)
The sanctuary lies on the pass Skřítek, 10 km from Rýmařov. The peatbog came into being as result of flowing there out sources of water and difficult outflow of water from the flat pass. You can admire there extensive areas grown with the peatbog moss, numerous little eyes water, Carpathian birches and other sorts of plants adapted to live on a peatbog. Tourists can stop in the inn.

Šerák
One of the highest tops of Keprnické hornatiny Foothills Keprnické in the main range with the height of 1351 m above sea level. It lies 9 km northwest from Jeseník in a cadastre of the commune Lipová-lázně. The top of Šerák is a part of the sanctuary Šerák - Keprník. A shelter stands under the top; over hundred- year-old Cottage Jiřího that was erected by a German tourist association in 1888 thanks to the understanding of the Wroclavian bishop Jerzy Kopp and because of that, it bears his name. Today, the shelter has 98 beds. There is a post of the mountain Ambulance Service. Beauty scenery stretches from under the shelter onto the range Orlík, the town Jeseník and the Otmuchowskie Lake in Poland. Construction of a chairlift onto Ramzová contributed to the significant increase in number of tourists visiting the place.
A track running the hogback begins on Šerák - a red track through Keprník, Červena hora, Červenohorské sedlo, Malý Děd and Praděd.

Keprník
Height of a mountain - 1423 m above sea level. As regards tourism and nature, it is one of the most interesting places in the whole Jeseniki. A didactic path of the sanctuary Šerák - Keprník runs there.

Vozka
The second greatest mountain of the range Keprník of the height of 1377 m above sea level, a part of the sanctuary Šerák .- Keprník. On a top, there is the slate- rock of the height of 7 meters, being a prevailing element of the scenery. Down hill, there is beauty scenery onto the range of Śnieżnik Králický Sněžník. A legend revolves about the beginning of this top- rock telling about a carter who in the period of hunger, on a suggestion of a devil, put loaves of bread under sliding wheels of cars. After his sinful act, a storm approached and a carter and his horse were petrified.

Vřesová well (Heath- Well)
A place on a slope of Červena hora (Red Mountain ) c.a. 3 km from Červenohorské sedlo (Red Mountain’s Pass) ahigh 1313 m above sea level According to a legend, a forester cured his own oculopathy with water from that well and, as a thanksgiving, he hung a saint picture on a nearby tree. In addition, other people looked there for health, and because of that, the Heath- Well became a place of pilgrimages. Some time later, one raised there at first wooden and later stone little chapel, which in 1927 was reconstructed into a little church. In 1946, after a hit of thunderbolt, the little church unfortunately burnt down. On needs of pilgrims, at the beginning of the XIX century a mountain cottage was erected there which, due to its poor condition, in 1888 was destroyed. A stone- little chapel over the well remained only until today.

Červenohorské sedlo (Red Mountain’s Pass)
It lays c.a. 22 km from Lipová-lázně. This is the well-known holiday camp and a ski- centre of Jeseniki. A way runs through the pass. From the half of the XIX century, a pull-up stood there, owned by a German tourist association. In the next years, the following cottages appeared, among other things a cottage of Czech tourists. Today, there is a restaurant, individual recreational cottages and a post of the mountain Ambulance Service.

TOURIST ROUT RAMZOVÁ - ČERVENOHORSKÉ SEDLO
A rout No. 34 Ramzová - Červenohorské sedlo is a main route running the hogbacks of the Northern part of Jeseniki, it counts 14 km and is a part of an international tourist route E3 Eisenach - Budapest. It mostly runs ahigh c.a. 1000 m above sea level. You can enter the rout from Ramzová- with a red tourist route. You can also use a chairlift from Ramzová onto Černava or till onto Šerák and, in that way, to conquer more easily the most painful section of the rout. Its following part - onto Keprník, Trojmezí, Vřesová studánka until on Červenohorské sedlo - is less painful and beautiful scenery on Jeseniki stretches from there.
From Červenohorské sedlo, you can continue our trip with a rout running the hogback on No. 1 track onto Pradziad and Jelenía studánka. That track has 16, 5 km in length, all along it runs ahigh over 1000 m above sea level and is not too exacting. From Červenohorské sedlo until the shelter Švýcárna, it mostly runs a bosky area. Next, it runs across meadows and alps of Pradziad onto Vysoká hola High alp until onto Jelenía studánka. On the way, you can have a meal at the shelters Švýcárna, Kurzovní, Barborka, Ovčárna. Onto Jelenía studánka, there is only a shelter for tourists.

Ramzová
Ramzová is the highest situated settlement in the region Jeseník, distant c.a. 7 km from Lipová. It is a starting point for many routs tourist, a well-known holiday camp visited with pleasure both in summer, as and in winter. It lays ahigh c.a. 760 m above sea level onto a pass separating Jeseniki from Mountains Rychlebské through which passes a way and a railway line pass. The main European watershed runs there and the historic and present border between Moravia and Silesia. The locality became peopled relatively late, until in the latter part of the XVIII century, and the life of local inhabitants was unusually difficult. In the commune, there is a bus stop and a railway station, a post of the mountain Ambulance Service, numerous hostel places, pubs and restaurants.
Ostružná
A village being found under Ramzovské sedlo, c.a. 2 km from the settlement Ramzová. Established in 1561 as a part of the fortune of the Kolsztejn family from Branná. Today, this is the well-known holiday camp, popular both in summer, as and in winter, with numerous recreational centers, boarding houses, restaurants. There is a bus stop and a railway station.


WINTER
SKI RESORTS

SKI CENTRE MIROSLAV
The Ski Centre Miroslav is situated in spa Lipová - lázně at a height of 650- 750 m above sea level
There are several ski- routs in the Center of an average level of difficulty, which will satisfy both beginners, as and very experienced skiers. There are four ski lifts with capacity more than 2700 persons per hour. All the ski-routs are well kept, and if necessary artificially snowed. The ski-rout of a length of 600 m is lighted up and opened every day from 9.00 until 21.00. There is also a snowboard slope in the center
Ski-lifts: Tatrapoma - 300 m, Tatrapoma - 600 m, Tatrapoma - 1 200 m
Ski trails: A Sport - 1 200 m, B Family - 600 m, C Family - 600 m, D Baby - 300 m.
Services and possibilities: a ski- school, a hiring establishment of skis, ski-service, a ski checkroom, a restaurant and fast food restaurants. The parking space situated at the main road, 500 m from an entrance, you can also take a ski-bus.

SKI RESORT LÁZEŇSKÝ VRCH
The centre Lázeňský Vrch is situated in the lower part of the locality Lipová - lázně, just near spa, and offers ski lifts and ski routs for beginner and advanced skiers. There are three ski lifts of the length of 470, 390 and 190 m and the children’s cable winch of 60 m of length. Ski routs are well kept and if necessary artificially snowed. In the Centre, there are places prepared for snowboard-lovers and some attractions. The Centre is situated next to mechanically maintained ski running rout not far from Anenského údolí.
Ski lifts: A - 470 m, KVP type, B - 390 m, EPV type, C - 190 m, POMA type.
Ski trails: red - 500 m, blue - 170 m, green - 700 m, children’s - 60 m.
Services and possibilities: a ski- school Sun Ski, hiring establishment of skis, a skis checkroom, a buffet - the next restaurant in the close area. The parking space close to the centre, other possibilities of parking also in the neighborhood.

SKI PARK RAMZOVÁ











The Ski Park Ramzová is situated c.a. 6 km from the commune Lipová - lázně, at a height of 782 - 1351 m above sea level
Skiers are especially attracted by the chairlift onto Černava and still onto Šerák. The section running to the exchange station on Černava is especially intended for skiers and there are two ski routs of light and average level of difficulty. From Černava, on the hogback, towards the mount Šerák, there is (parallel to a funicular) another ski lift with a ski rout of an average level of difficulty. There are prepared shorter ski lifts for less experienced skiers. There are 10 ski trails together with lifts overall area of the Centre. All of them are well kept, and some of them artificially snowed. Location of the centre on that height makes possible an average length of the winter- season from December to March.
Ski trails: Ramzová - Černava, the length- 1 430 m, Ramzová - Černava, the length 1 300 m, Mračná - Černava, the length 900 m, Mračná - Černava, the length 1 100 m, Slalomový svah, the length 300 m, Šerák - Ramzová, the length 3 260 m, Ramzová - a meadow, 300 m
Ski lifts: Nascivera - 1 2800 m, Transporta - 1 830 m, ROBY - 1 000 m, BROAD BEANS - 480 m, Moby - 500 m, Šmoula - 300 m, + next 4 ski lifts - 120, 380 , 450 and 600 m.
In the area around the Centre, there are over 8 km of the well-kept ski ruining routes; other ski running routs lead through Petříkov or Ostružná onto the hogback of the Rychlebské Mountains. Šerák is an excellent starting point to the mountain hogbacks.
Services and possibilities: the centre of the mountain Ambulance service (Horská služba) , a ski- school - Sun Ski&board school, hiring establishment of skis, a skis checkroom, service, snow- pontoons, food, a restaurant, Snow party. Parking space close to the Centre.
Communication: by car, train, bus (from Lipová from spa)

SKI PARK OSTRUŽNÁ
The ski resort Ostružná lies ahigh 740 - 835 m above sea level, c.a. 9 km from Lipová and 1km from Ramzová. If we come by car, we can use the comfortable parking space that is found near a way or go directly to the Centre - towards the Jonáška ski lifts. The ski lift Řetězárna is the one that is the highest situated. On the other side of Ostružná, there is a ski lift Na Hájovně. There are seven ski lifts on nine kept ski routs, which are opened from 9.00 until 17.00. There is a possibility of evening ski riding on four ski routs. These areas are suitable for beginner and experienced skiers, snowboarding and suitable for families with children. For ski- running lovers there are prepared routs onto Paprsek, Smrk, Králický Sněžník (Snieznik) and to Petříkov.
Ski trails: Skalka - 350 m, Jasanová - 400 m, Dětská - 70 m, , Zahrádka - 400 m, Lesní - 420 m, Na Hájovně 400 m, Řetězárna - 500 m.
Services and possibilities: central sale of tickets, untactile system of checking SKIDATA, single ski-pass to all ski lifts, the ski- school Sun Ski&board school, hiring establishment of skis and snowboards, food, a restaurant. Parking space close to a ski lift, also other parking space also accessible.
Communication: by car, train, bus (from Lipová from spa)










SKI PARK PETŘÍKOV
The centre is situated in the sediment Petříkov, c.a. 10 km from Lipová - lázně, situated ahigh 740 - 950 m above sea level. There are five ski lifts of different level of difficulty, with an entire length of the downhill rout 450 - 900 m and with topping 130 - 170 m. Some ski routs are artificially snowed. Well-kept ski routs starts from Petříkov routs toward the range of the Rychlebské Mountains.
Ski lifts: Kaste - 650 m, Loko- 520 m, Skiing - 470 m, Zetocha - 300 m, Relax Ski - 400 m
Services: The Mountain ambulance service (Horská služba) food, a restaurant, ski-bus from the parking space situated on the edge of the locality, the ski- school Sun Ski&board school, service, hiring establishment of skis, a skis checkroom.
Communication: by car (a way II/369 to Ostružna, in the locality close to a church turn to the right,, still 1,5 km on a way), by train or by bus (on Ramzová and 2 km on foot, to Ostružná and 2km on foot).

SKI AREÁL ČERVENOHORSKÉ SEDLO
The ski resort Červenohorské sedlo is one the most well known centres of downhill skiing on Moravia. The Centre lies ahigh over 1 000 m above sea level, and this permits to suppose that winter- season there would last minimum from the 2nd half of December until the end of March.. There are seven ski lifts of total capacity 4 800 persons per hour, four ski routs and so-called small meadows to practice. Ski routs are well kept, perfect for beginner and the most experienced skiers.
Running routs disperse from Červenohorské sedlo on two sides on hogbacks of the Jeseniki Mountains.
Services: The Mountain ambulance service, service, a skis checkroom, hiring establishments, ski- schools, a restaurant and buffets. The parking space is situated next to the centre, a starting point is the parking space in Koutech upon Desna, from there shuttle service.
Communication: by car, by bus (from Jeseník)