Olomouc Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden in Olomouc has been built since 1971 on the territory of the so-called Crown Fortress in the immediate vicinity of Bezručovy sady. The botanical garden forms part of the original fortification belt of the city. The area of ​​the botanical garden is separated from the remains of the orchards by a branch of the Morava river called Mlýnský potok. It is a large area with an area of ​​seven hectares, the concept of which is very landscape-specific.

Part of it is also a unique rosary, which is located on the forecourt of the fortress. The rosary is planted with 40,000 rose bushes comprising over 600 species, including a very unusually green flowering Chinese rose. Large-flowered, orchard, cover, climbing roses, as well as the original botanical species are represented here.

In addition to the rosary, the garden also includes the Alpinum, the Garden of Nations and the newly established Garden of the Senses in 2011, which aims to bring the beauty and aroma of blooming flowers and herbs closer to the blind and partially sighted. The plants are described here on the inner part of the raised bed in Braille. In the flowerbed, visitors can meet lovage, sage, anemones, stonecrops, lavender, motherwort, various types of grasses, pansies and other plants, which visitors can perceive by smell, hearing and touch. They definitely do not have to worry about thorn plants or plants that cause contact allergies.

In front of the rosary, lovers of herbs and medicinal plants can test their knowledge and try to get to know individual herbs according to their scent and appearance. Who among us can boast, for example, of seeing with our own eyes and, on the first try, recognizing the intoxicatingly fragrant route that was so popular with previous generations.

However, it is not only roses and medicinal herbs, but also a pond, statues, totems carved from wood or pottery on the dividing wall, which was helped to co-create by children of local schools, or flower beds planted in colorful strips, which we can admire in the botanical garden.

There are a large number of rare trees and trees, such as Liriodendron tulipifera, Mespilus germanica, Microbiota decussata or Pinus aristata. resin effusions on needles.

Children will also find fun here, who can play a giant wooden xylophone, try giant wooden chess or play under the supervision of mothers on the playground directly in the botanical garden.

From spring to autumn, visitors can admire a rich variety of colors and shapes of various plants on a daily basis, except on Mondays when it is closed. Mothers who come for a walk to the botanical garden with their children in prams will also find peace here. Every Wednesday, entry to the complex is free. Dogs are not allowed.

Author: Zuzana Bohdalová

Photo: Zuzana Bohdalová