Upper Morava Valley

The Upper Morava Valley, or Hornomoravský úval, is a broad and fertile lowland depression located in the heart of Moravia, Czech Republic. It stretches along the upper reaches of the Morava River, bounded by the Jeseníky Mountains to the north and the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands to the west. The geological foundation consists of Neogene sediments covered by deep layers of loess, resulting in highly productive black earth soils. This valley is the cultural center of the Haná ethnographic region, famous for its unique dialect, bustling folklore, and ornate traditional costumes. The city of Olomouc, situated centrally in the valley, serves as the historical capital of Moravia and features the UNESCO-listed Holy Trinity Column. The flat landscape is occasionally interrupted by remnants of original floodplain forests, protected within the Litovelské Pomoraví Landscape Protected Area. Economically, the region is a powerhouse of Czech agriculture, specializing in the cultivation of high-quality malting barley and sugar beets.

Nearby cities

Brno

Brno is the historic center of Moravia and the second-largest city in the country, known for the Špilberk fortress and modernist architec…

Ostrava

Ostrava is located in the east of the country near the Polish border and was formerly a major center for coal mining and steel industry.

Olomouc

Olomouc is a historic city in Moravia known for its Baroque architecture, numerous fountains, and religious significance.

Hradec Králové

Hradec Králové is a city in eastern Bohemia at the confluence of the Elbe and Orlice rivers, known for its modern urban planning from the…

Pardubice

Pardubice is a major industrial and transport hub in eastern Bohemia, widely known for its traditional gingerbread and horse racing.

Havířov

Havířov is the youngest city in the Czech Republic, founded after World War II as a residential town for miners in the Silesian part of t…

Zlín

Zlín is a modern industrial city in eastern Moravia, strongly shaped by the functionalist architecture of the Baťa shoe corporation.

Opava

Opava is the historical center of Czech Silesia, known for its rich cultural tradition and Neo-Gothic architecture.

Frýdek-Místek

Frýdek-Místek was formed by the unification of two towns on the border between Moravia and Silesia, separated by the Ostravice River.

Jihlava

Jihlava is the administrative center of the Vysočina Region and a former free mining town that grew wealthy in the Middle Ages from silve…

Karviná

Karviná is a major center of coal mining in Czech Silesia, known for its spa tradition and industrial past.

Prostějov

Prostějov is a city in the Olomouc Region, historically known for its textile and clothing industry as well as its Jewish history.

Přerov

Přerov is a major railway junction in Moravia and is known for its archaeological finds from the mammoth era.

Třinec

Třinec is an industrial city in the east of the country on the Polish border, dominated almost entirely by the town's large steelworks.

Třebíč

Třebíč is a historic city in the Vysočina Region, known for its exceptionally well-preserved Jewish quarter and Romanesque basilica.

History & landmarks

Znojmo

A historic royal town perched above the Dyje River, famous for its medieval fortification, vast underground labyrinth, and wine.