Discover Velký Újezd

Velký Újezd is a suitable destination if you would like to include a hiking event, local history and the landscape at the foot of the Oderské vrchy in your travel plans. Its attractions range from hiking and nature to sacred architecture and local cultural traditions. The hiking distances on offer and the dates when recurring events shape the year provide especially concrete points of reference for planning.

Landscape and historic trade route

Velký Újezd lies at the foot of the Oderské vrchy on a gently sloping hillside. The source of the Odra is nearby, about six kilometres from the village. The village and the source are therefore distinct landscape landmarks: the hillside here, and the nearby river’s source there. Historically, Velký Újezd stood on an old trade route with a ford between Olomouc and Lipník nad Bečvou. This connection to transport adds another aspect of local history to the landscape.

Hiking: a range of route lengths

The Memoriál Jaroslava Švarce has been organised every June since 1968 as a long-distance hiking event; the exact dates vary from year to year. For the 2026 edition, the KČT lists routes of 6, 10, 17, 25, 35 and 50 kilometres. The start and finish are at the TJ Sokol sports ground in Velký Újezd. The range of distances lets you choose a route according to the length you want to walk. The 2026 edition is also listed as an IVV and Turistická 200 hiking event.

TJ Sokol organises another regular hiking tradition: Velký Újezd has held an evening march in honour of 28 October since 1976. The exact dates may vary from year to year. So if you are planning a trip around a hiking event, check the dates for the relevant year.

Church and local history

The Church of St James the Greater is the parish church of the Velký Újezd u Olomouce parish. Built as a Baroque sacred building in 1749–1751 to a design by architect Mikuláš Thalherr, it acquired its present form during those years. The year 1749 is also associated with the Vrchnostenský špitál; the Poštovní přepřahací stanice dates from 1791. The Chapel of Panny Marie Lurdské is one of Velký Újezd’s cultural monuments. The buildings and their different dates offer several points of interest if you are curious about local history.

Local traditions and dates

The traditional Velkoújezdské hody always take place around 15 August; the programme varies from year to year. This is a separate date to bear in mind alongside the Memoriál held in June and the evening march in honour of 28 October. If you are travelling for one of these events, check the exact dates or the programme for the relevant year.

Theatre is also part of local cultural history: the Podhoran theatre group has staged premieres since 1958. Another historical speciality is homemade Tvarůžky, produced in Velký Újezd from 1895. Production ended after the Second World War. So alongside recurring cultural events, the area has older traditions to discover, without confusing them with present-day offerings.

Planning your journey and stay

Velký Újezd has good bus connections. If you plan to travel by bus, check the appropriate timetable for your specific travel dates. The reason for your trip can be a useful starting point when choosing a hotel: for example, your preferred hiking distance, your interest in architecture and local history, or an event during the year. The local facts suggest a range of themes to explore without implying any particular accommodation features.

Discover more destinations: Skrbeň, Loučka, Daskabát, Pňovice, Mladějovice, Cholina, Majetín, Šumvald

For the wider travel overview: Okres Olomouc.