Branka U Opavy: History, Landscape and Cycling Routes

Branka U Opavy combines a location in the Moravice valley with a varied local history and a range of opportunities for culture and outdoor activities. At its centre are the larger Chapel of the Holy Trinity and the monument to the victims of the First World War; views open up from the surrounding area. There are also two cycling routes, a pump track and the Výletiště leisure area. This lets you get a sense of the town both through its historical traces and through the specific leisure activities that interest you on your trip.

The Moravice Valley and Views

Branka U Opavy lies in an approximately 300-metre-wide valley of the Moravice, which runs from north to south. The valley lies between foothills of the Nízký Jeseník. The Hanuše ridge, at 427 metres, forms its western boundary, while Branecký kopec, at 376 metres, forms the eastern boundary; the eastern hill is also called Branská hůrka. From the area around the town, views extend across the fertile Opava Lowland. Praděd and the Jeseníky ridge are visible on the western horizon. The nearby valley and the distant views of these named landscape features thus offer two different perspectives.

Local History in the Chronicle, Chapel and Monument

Branka U Opavy was first mentioned in 1257, when the municipality was part of the Hradec estate. In 1842, Chaplain Jan Chovanec began keeping the local chronicle. It is described as the oldest chronicle in the rural area around Opava. The mill at Branka was first mentioned in writing in 1339.

The larger Chapel of the Holy Trinity in the town centre was consecrated on 11 June 1843. Its new bell, named “Václav Jan”, has been rung since 15 October 1944. The monument to the victims of the First World War also stands in the centre; it was unveiled on 28 October 1923. Its hourglass motif symbolises the transience of life. The chronicle, mill, chapel and monument thus point to different aspects of local history—from written records to religious and public remembrance.

Cycling Routes and Leisure

The two cycling routes differ mainly in their course. Cycling Route 551 runs from Opava to Hradec nad Moravicí through Branka U Opavy and is used by cyclists and inline skaters. Marked Cycling Route 6055 runs from Branka through Chvalíkovice and Vršovice to Raduň; in Branka, it connects to Route 551. The destinations named help distinguish the two sections of the route.

The pump track in Branka U Opavy is a closed, artificially built circuit with rollers and banked turns. It can be ridden without pedalling. The Výletiště is a different kind of leisure spot: the area has children’s play equipment and recreational facilities, as well as a covered wooden pavilion with seating. It also has a facility for charging electronic devices, a place to pump up bicycles and an outdoor fire pit. The area thus combines places to relax with practical facilities for visitors.

Events with Changing Dates

The Branský Literature Festival is a literary and musical festival in Branka U Opavy. The eighth edition took place on Saturday, 8 June 2024, from 4 p.m. in the Czech-Polish Friendship Pavilion. Dates and participants may vary from year to year. The summer cinema is a traditional film screening; previous editions have drawn visitors from other places as well as local residents. Its dates change annually.

The Spolek pro děti ZŠ a MŠ Branka u Opavy association continues a tradition of events for children in the municipality that has been running for more than ten years; their dates also change annually. As part of Municipal Day on 15 June 2024, the fourth edition of the traditional “Pumpuj Branku” race took place. If you would like to include an event in your trip, check the dates for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations: Hlavnice, Moravice, Kravaře, Slavkov, Strahovice, Raduň, Píšť, Dolní Benešov

See the overview of the wider travel region: Opava District.