Explore Northern Moravia and Silesia: Exciting Tours, Scenic Walks, and the Latest Updates

Did you know that the Vítkovice Ironworks were established in 1828 by Archduke Rudolf, the Archbishop of Olomouc, and they were considered the most advanced ironworks in the Austro-Hungarian Empire?

Once a neglected area, now this site is the most visited monument in the region and has been turned into a fascinating cultural and social hub. Here, besides enjoying tours of various lengths and types, you can also participate in numerous events or explore the Big or Small World of Technology U6. The Bolt Tower gives a spectacular view of the city – it’s located at the top of an old blast furnace and is named after a famous Jamaican runner.

Additionally, Dolní Vítkovice serves as the heart of the Technotrasa and is a key stop on the __________, known as the Iron Trail. This trail leads to significant places, like the Michal Mine in Ostrava-Michálkovice or Landek Park, where you can really get the feel of being a miner, right from reaching the shaft to taking a ride in the mine lift.

Moravian-Silesian monuments and the Technotrasa featuring a new stop

In 2026, a new location will be added to the route, which is Dřevěnky na Borku in Třinec. Here, visitors can get a real insight into the daily lives of working-class families whose lives were significantly tied to the growth of the Třinec Ironworks. This one-of-a-kind open-air museum features the last two surviving wooden houses from 1878, which have cultural monument status. These homes originally provided lodging for workers and their families in the steelworks. Nowadays, they offer a chance for visitors to peek inside four residential units and discover how people lived, worked, and ran their homes in an era shaped by the steel industry and regional industrial growth.

Plan your spring journey to explore other sites along the Tech Trail and fascinating places in the area! Some excellent choices include the Dolní Vítkovice complex, Flaschar’s Mine, Hukvaldy Castle, Sovinec Castle, Landek Park, the Valaška Trail, the World of Technology in Dolní Vítkovice, the TV Tower on Praděd, the Marlenka factory, and Kunín Castle.

Thanks to the Technotrasa, exploration is easier than ever before. The network of e-bike rental points is growing, new camping facilities for caravans are being set up, and more and more locations are being added gradually. Instead of the previous twelve stops, the Technotrasa now connects several dozen sites, many of which remain open year-round without any restrictions.

Discover stories that span hundreds of years

You can also find unique experiences at lesser-known sites, where stories of industrialist families and their businesses, which have made this region famous beyond its borders, are shared. For instance, a miller, a military engineer, or a former miner might tell you these tales. An example is the history of the Wesselsky watermill by the River Odra, which dates back to the 16th century, and the Buckwheat Mill in Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, operational since 1861.

You can explore inside windmills or check out the scythe factory in Karlovice, Silesia, where scythes, wires, and other farming tools have been made since 1725.

In Rýmařov, a tour of the Hedva Český Brokát textile factory will allow you to witness silk production. You will learn about the production process, walk through the Brocade Room, have the chance to try weaving on a loom and spinning wheel, and maybe even take home a small rug you made yourself.

Don’t forget about the freely accessible places such as Slezská Harta reservoir or the Weisshuhn Canal, along with the paper mill race near Hradec nad Moravicí.

The Technotrasa offers a remarkable blend of history, technology, and local industrial character. This project is affiliated with the prestigious European network ERIH (European Route of Industrial Heritage).