Around 5km to the northeast of Olomouc a large pilgrimage complex occupies a hill called Svatý Kopeček, a place which has been part of the landscape for hundreds of years. Today Svatý Kopeček is a magnet for pilgrims and admirers of Baroque beauty. You can visit the graceful Basilica of the Visitation or spend a pleasant day at the local zoo where the viewing tower provides views of the animals, the basilica and the city of Olomouc.
This immense Baroque complex was built on a site where, according to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to an Olomouc merchant. Even from a distance the eye is drawn to the dominant feature of the complex – the Baroque Basilica of the Visitation, promoted to basilica minor by Pope John Paul II during a visit.
Svatý Kopeček is one of the most popular day-trip and pilgrimage destinations around Olomouc. Its location, the variety of the terrain, the beauty of the woods and the local streams offer ideal conditions for sport and other recreation. So combine a visit to historical Olomouc with a stroll around Svatý Kopeček, a bike trip or a pleasant picnic in the shade of this immense religious complex.