Staré Hamry – Landscape, Churches and Routes

Staré Hamry is located in the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Beskydy). Characteristic wooden houses with pastures and small fields have been preserved in the local districts; they shape the typical landscape of the Beskids. You can plan your visit around several specific interests: protected nature, churches and routes for different ways of getting around. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, first consider which of these themes you would like to focus on.

Landscape and protected nature

The Podgruň Natural Monument is a wet upland meadow on the northwestern slope of the Gruň ridge in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids. Its protected status safeguards rare and protected plant species. The Draplavý Nature Reserve preserves a small remnant of an original, primeval-like fir-beech forest along the geomorphologically interesting gorge of a mountain stream. Protected features also include rare and endangered plant and animal species.

The two areas represent different aspects of nature: Podgruň, a wet upland meadow and its plants; Draplavý, a forest remnant in a stream gorge and the species found there. Together with the wooden houses, pastures and small fields in the local districts, they create a landscape in which natural habitats and traditional settlement patterns exist side by side.

Churches, history and nature trail

The wooden Church of the Virgin Mary on Gruň dates from 1887. Its rectangular floor plan and pentagonal presbytery give the building a clearly recognizable form. The church has been a protected cultural monument since October 8, 2002. Pilgrimages take place there around the May feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians. Visits can be arranged in advance through the nearby St. Joseph House; confirm the arrangements again before your arrival.

The stone Church of St. Henry in Staré Hamry has a different history: its foundation stone was laid on July 12, 1863, and the church was completed two years later. The Gruň–Bílý Kříž nature trail starts there. It leads to the Tripoint at the border between Moravia, Silesia and Slovakia, and provides information about both the history of Staré Hamry and the construction of the Šance Reservoir. The trail thus connects a specific starting point with two distinct themes: local history and water engineering.

Routes and seasonal options

For a winter activity, Ski Park Gruň offers three downhill runs with a total length of 3.8 kilometers, a two-person chairlift and two drag lifts. Check whether it is operating before your trip. For a two-wheeled tour, “Zadními horami na kole” offers another option: most of the route follows paved paths, and trekking or mountain bikes are recommended. Trail conditions may change, so it is worth checking them before setting out.

Your choice of route also depends on the season. In winter, “Zadními horami na kole” can be done on cross-country skis when snow conditions are suitable. The options therefore differ not only in the mode of transport: for the cycling version, the mostly paved surface and the bicycle recommendation matter; for the winter version, snow conditions are key. Check these conditions before planning your tour.

Getting there by bus

Bus services to Staré Hamry run from Frýdlant nad Ostravicí via Ostravice, and from Turzovka in Slovakia. Routes and timetables may change, so check the connection for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Pazderna, Mosty U Jablunkova, Košařiska, Písečná U Jablunkova, Pražmo, Kozlovice, Hrádek Nad Olší, Komorní Lhotka.

Back to the regional travel overview: Frýdek-Místek District.