Discover Potštát: Castle history and a city of rocks

Potštát combines architectural history with the landscape of Potštátské skalní město. Cultural landmarks include the castle, the historic town centre with the Church of St. Bartholomew, the ruins of Puchart Castle, and the wooden church in Lipná. Several routes also complement these themes, though they serve different purposes. If you are considering Potštát as a destination for a hotel stay, you can weigh up whether historic buildings, regional history, rock formations, or a particular route matter most to you.

The castle and historic town centre

Potštát Castle stands at the end of a gently sloping spur built up by the town. It developed from a regularly laid-out Gothic fortress; the major conversion into a castle took place at the beginning of the 17th century. Its architectural history can therefore be divided into two stages: the Gothic fortress was followed by its conversion into a castle. The historic town centre is lined, among other things, by the Church of St. Bartholomew. It is a landmark in its own right in the history of the town and shifts the focus from the castle to another historic building in the town centre.

The castle ruins and the church in Lipná

Pustý zámek, also known as Puchart, is a several-centuries-old castle ruin on the steep slopes of Potštátské skalní město. Visitors can explore it. The remains include foundations, sections of wall, as well as a moat and rampart; the site is interpreted as a double castle. These different features give a more concrete picture of the ruin than the idea of a single remnant of wall: the described site includes not only foundations and walls, but also a moat and rampart. As Puchart lies on steep slopes, check current information about accessibility before visiting. The ruin is a historic site in its own right and should not be confused with Potštát Castle.

The wooden Church of St. John the Baptist stands in Lipná. It is listed as a cultural monument and is considered the last surviving building of its kind in the Oderské vrchy area. It acquired its present appearance through a renovation in 1746. The date refers to the renovation that gave the church its present appearance. In chronological terms, this renovation took place after the major conversion of the castle at the beginning of the 17th century; the building histories of the two sites therefore belong to different periods.

The exhibition on the history of the Potštátsko region covers the history of Potštátsko, including its districts and the villages that disappeared within the Libavá Military Training Area. It opened in April 2014. Its subject matter thus extends beyond individual buildings to include these places and their history.

Rock formations and routes

The rock faces of Potštátské skalní město consist of resistant Carboniferous sedimentary rocks. The cliffs are over 20 metres high. Their geology and height give the landscape its distinctive character. From Potštát, you can reach Potštátské skalní město by following the Velička stream; this route connects the starting point of Potštát with the city of rocks.

The routes also differ in how they are used. The Hipostezka na Potštátsku runs through Potštát, is 31 kilometres long in total, and offers two circular routes. These connect horse farms, rest areas, and tethering points for horses. As route information and facilities may change, check the latest details on the route and amenities before planning your trip.

The Potštát–Boškov cycle route provides a different kind of connection: it links the cycle routes from Hranice with the cycle route towards Středolesí and Uhřínov. The two route options can thus be distinguished: the Hipostezka focuses on the riding route, circular routes, and connected facilities, while the cycle route connects with other cycle routes. When choosing your destination, these differences can help you consider cultural history, the rocky landscape, and the type of route that suits you separately.

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For the wider travel overview: Okres Přerov.