Slezská Harta: Reservoir, Nature and Cultural Heritage

If you’re looking for a hotel for a trip to Slezská Harta, you can plan your stay around the themes that interest you: water, cycling, nature or cultural history. The area is defined by the reservoir of the same name, built on the Moravice River between 1987 and 1997.

Boat trips and activities on the water

Boat trips on the reservoir visit bays and points of interest while also providing information about the lake’s history. The service is seasonal, so check the dates before your trip. One special option is a trip on the Santa Maria, a replica of an old wooden sailing ship. It offers a one-hour narrated cruise on the reservoir. These trips are also seasonal and should be planned in advance.

The Rouza ferry crosses the reservoir between Roudno and Razová. As it operates seasonally, it’s a good idea to check the latest operating details before your trip. Other water activities include yacht lessons and the rental of cabin sailboats, offered by a provider at Slezská Harta since 1998. Confirm availability before booking. Fishing and walks in nature are also possible by the reservoir; if you go fishing, observe the applicable rules and permitted areas.

Cycling and routes through the landscape

The paved cycle path at Slezská Harta is eleven kilometres long and runs between Razová Bay and Leskovec nad Moravicí. From there, cyclists can see bays, the Jeseníky ridge with Praděd, and the surrounding volcanoes. Check the route conditions before setting off. The Slezská Harta Bike Marathon, which began in 2010, is a recurring sporting event in the region; its dates vary from year to year.

The volcanic educational trails around Slezská Harta offer another focus: together, they are 25 kilometres long. They include 18 information panels, three of which are entrance panels with a panoramic map. Alongside the cycle path, the area around the reservoir thus offers a focus on geology and longer routes.

Swimming and nature

The VN Slezská Harta – Leskovec nad Moravicí bathing area has a grassy beach about 100 metres long and a gently sloping entry into the water. Check local conditions before swimming. At the VN Slezská Harta – Leskovec nad Moravicí monitoring site, bathing water quality was rated excellent for the period from 2019 to 2022. This rating applies to that period and is not a current seasonal assessment.

A geological highlight is the nearby Razovské tufity protected area. Located in an abandoned quarry, it preserves exposed tuffite outcrops. The Razovské tufity are also an exposed remnant of the Velký Roudný basalt complex. This makes it possible to combine a stay by the reservoir with a look at the geology of the landscape.

History and culture by the reservoir

The Zatopené osudy educational trail tells the stories of the people who once lived in the valley that was flooded when the reservoir was built. The trail was inspired by a Czech Television documentary of the same name. The Baroque Church of St. Lawrence stands on the reservoir shore, and the Zaniklé osady educational trail passes by it.

The Vápenná pec lime kiln is also part of the area’s historical heritage. It was built from coarse basalt in 1912 and restored and opened to the public in 2001. Boat trips, a cycling route, geological educational trails and historical sites each offer a different focus. Which ones matter to your travel plans depends on whether you’d rather spend your time by the reservoir on the water, on two wheels or exploring the region’s history.

Discover more destinations: Moravskoslezský Kočov, Brantice, Malá Štáhle, Holčovice, Stará Ves, Krasov, Dolní Václavov, Horní Životice

Return to the broader travel overview: Okres Bruntál.