Olomouc is one of the most underrated cities in Czechia. The historic center rivals Brno and even parts of Prague for architectural beauty, but it sees a fraction of the tourists. It was the capital of Moravia until the Thirty Years' War and retains a strong sense of its own history.
The town is known for its Baroque fountains — six Baroque fountains and one art nouveau fountain, the most in the Czech Republic outside Prague. The Holy Trinity Column on the main square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Astronomical Clock set into the town hall has the unique distinction of being remade by socialist realists — saints replaced by workers and peasants.
Olomouc also has one of the oldest universities in Central Europe (founded 1573), which gives the city a lively student atmosphere and keeps it from feeling like a museum piece. Above the river, Saint Wenceslas Cathedral and the castle complex mark the spot where the last Přemyslid king was assassinated in 1306.
A local specialty: Olomoucké tvarůžky, a pungent fermented cheese with a very strong smell. It's an acquired taste, but locals are proud of it.