Enjoy Zlín Like We Do

When the Baťa siblings founded a shoe company in 1894, nobody could have imagined the heights of fame that would be achieved by what was at that time an insignificant little town. They had business in their blood and since they had vision, they invited many renowned architects to Zlín (Le Corbusier, for example), who built a modern, urban agglomeration in the Functionalist style.

We will leave the telling of the story of this family business to others and focus on what they left behind. If you want to see a Functionalist technological miracle, take a good look at the Zlín or Baťa [mrakodrap] built in the 1930s with the boss's office located in the [výtah]. From the upper terrace you can see the entire city: the manufacturing complex, the colony of Baťa residences, the cinema and other architecturally significant high-rises.

In addition to shoes and architecture, the creative arts have also bloomed here. The film ateliers were originally built to shoot ads for the Baťa Company, but gradually became pioneers in special effects and animation under the guidance of [režiséři] Karel Zeman and Hermína Týrlová. Schools here continue to teach film and advertising, and each year our children look forward to the oldest international children's film festival.

The carefree Bečva River meanders through East Moravia and creates stunning natural scenery. So that you too can enjoy the beauty and our hospitality, we have built one of the most scenic cycling paths in the country along this river. We are sure that you will enjoy it to the fullest. And speaking of local delights, would you care to sample [valašská kyselica] or [frgál]?

So pump up your tires, oil your chain and let's get going! But before heading down the Valašský hills along the Bečva, it's worth pedaling over to Pustevna. The folk Art Nouveau [chalupy] here were given their magical character by architect Dušan Jurkovič. After a breathtaking descent to Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, you'll be greeted by the oldest and largest open-air folk museum in Central Europe.

If we start getting a bit weary on the way, we stop to visit the medicinal springs in Teplice nad Bečvou. If you can discover the entrance to the Zbrašov Aragonite [jeskyně] and dare to go in, it's like stepping into another world. Another place of local pride is the Hranice [propast], which is the deepest flooded cave in the world. With amazement we have to admit that here, nature still has the upper hand.