ZOO and botanical gardens Morava

A garden that inspires

On the outskirts of the village of Borotín, in the picturesque landscape north of Boskovice, lies the Arboretum Borotín. This botanical garden, established in the 1970s, today offers more than 3,000 plant species. It is a place where the beauty of nature meets the ingenuity of landscape architecture, perfect for a peaceful walk or finding inspiration for one's own garden. The Arboretum is freely accessible year-round and open during daylight hours, with no entrance fee required.

The plant world by continents and styles

Arboretum Borotín is divided into thematic sections that allow visitors to explore different gardening cultures from around the world. The Japanese and Chinese sections, with bonsai trees, stone lanterns, and wooden bridges, evoke the harmonious atmosphere of Eastern traditions. The herb garden will enchant visitors with the scent of lavender, mint, sage, and other, less-known medicinal plants, while the alpine garden with its water features resembles a magical mountain landscape with ponds, streams, and a water wall. The pavilion with a green roof offers seasonal exhibitions of flowers, woody plants, and decorations. The entire area is complemented by information boards and carefully maintained paths that guide visitors through this quiet landscape full of scents and colours.

Transformations of nature in every season

The garden offers a unique experience throughout the year. In spring, perennials, rhododendrons, and ornamental shrubs awaken; in summer, the garden reaches the peak of its variety and offers pleasant shade under the tree canopies. In autumn, the leaves turn gold and red, and the fruits ripen. In winter, the garden takes a well-deserved rest, but its architecture and structure stand out even more at that time.

For whom is the arboretum suitable

Arboretum Borotín is an ideal destination for all age groups. Families with children will appreciate the spacious and safe area free from road traffic. Seniors and couples will find their own enjoyment thanks to the quiet atmosphere and the possibility of resting on the provided benches. Gardeners and botanists will find inspiration and education here due to the wide range of represented plants. The entire area is barrier-free. Due to the protection of the exhibits, entry with dogs is not permitted.

How to get to the arboretum and what to expect on site

The Arboretum is located in the village of Borotín near Boskovice, in the Blansko district. It is possible to park a car in the immediate vicinity of the entrance. If travelling by bus, one can reach the village of Borotín comfortably, and from there, it is only a few minutes' walk to the Arboretum. Within the grounds, visitors will find benches, information boards, and shelters. Please note that there are no catering services directly in the garden, but in the village of Borotín, visitors will find refreshments where they can stop for a meal or a drink.

Do you know which attraction in Moravia is among the most visited? It is ZOO Zlín, sometimes also referred to as ZOO Lešná due to the Zámek Lešná of the same name, which is part of the garden. It is visited by more than 600,000 people annually. It is located about 10 kilometres from Zlín.

The original garden was founded by Tomáš Baťa as early as 1930 and has undergone several renovations and expansions in the following years. At present, it keeps over 200 species of animals. ZOO Zlín is the only one in the Czech Republic that can boast the breeding of the kiwi bird. A botanical garden is also part of the premises. Visitors also have the opportunity to enter the emu ostrich and kangaroo exhibit directly.

ZOO Zlín is divided into several sections according to continents. In the section called Afrika, very popular animals dominate, such as elephants, rhinoceroses, or lions. The Etiopie exhibit, with its typical African village and smaller African animals such as storks, cranes, baboons, or meerkats, is also part of it. The ingenious design down to the smallest detail will give visitors the feeling of having been truly transported to Africa.

Another represented continent is Asia. Here, visitors may encounter the Hala - Bala exhibit, named after the reserves in southern Thailand. Malayan tapirs or gibbons, as well as pelicans or geese, can be found here. In other enclosures of the Asian section, visitors will see pandas, tigers, bears, or gaurs. The Mu - Shin garden, which is the largest Japanese garden in the Czech Republic, or a Buddhist corner with a statue of Buddha and other artefacts, is also part of the exhibit.

In the Austrálie section, the aforementioned kiwi bird and several other aviaries with Australian birds can be found. There is also a walk-through kangaroo and emu exhibit called Stezka běžce Emu. ZOO Zlín is the only European zoo that also breeds New Guinea singing dogs.

And then, visitors move on to America. Interesting animal species are represented here as well. Would you like to see an anteater, colourful macaws, or capybaras? Are you interested in what a squirrel monkey, saki, or curassow looks like? This section will fulfil all your wishes and answer all your questions. A popular exhibit is also the pool with sea lions, which can be observed even underwater. Various species of cacti can be admired in the Mexiko exhibit.

ZOO Zlín is also significant in terms of nature conservation and the rescue of endangered animal species. Thanks to its activities, more than a dozen vultures bred here have been released into the wild. From contributions from visitors, the zoo also supports the protection of white rhinoceroses or white-bellied herons.

The zoological garden includes a large number of refreshments, souvenir shops, and the necessary sanitary facilities. During the visit, it is recommended not to miss Zámek Lešná from the end of the 18th century, which will certainly enchant visitors with its fairytale appearance. And once all the exhibits that ZOO Zlín offers have been explored, visitors are invited to head out for a tour of the city itself. Surely, something captivating will be found there as well.

However, not only Zlín itself, but the entire Zlínsko region is ideal for spending free time or a holiday throughout the year. It is important to find suitable accommodation near ZOO Zlín, or in the wider surroundings, and take the right group of people on the trip. Východní Morava truly offers many places worth visiting. Using our search agent, a cosy guesthouse or a comfortable hotel, a cottage in seclusion, or private accommodation can be found in the Zlínsko region. It is entirely up to you. And then, nothing stands in the way of setting off towards new adventures.

Baroque Jewel Among Flowers, Sculptures and Labyrinths

Květná zahrada, historically known as Libosad, is an early Baroque park dating from 1665–1675, established by Bishop Karl II of Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn of Olomouc. The project was created according to the designs of Italian architects Filiberto Lucchese and Giovanni Pietro Tencalla and represents a unique combination of the French and Italian styles. Since 1998, it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage list, together with Podzámecká zahrada and the Archbishop's Chateau in Kroměříž. The garden is accessible to the public year-round, during daytime hours, free of charge.

Architectural Detail and a Floral Symphony in Every Season

Visitors are invited to be enchanted by a place where masterful architecture merges with a magnificent floral symphony in every season. The garden spans a generous area of approximately 300 x 485 m and is designed as a rectangular layout featuring spaces of elegantly composed greenery that blend into labyrinths and fountains.

In the central part stands the impressive octagonal Rotunda with rich frescoes and intricate decoration, while inside it conceals a unique Foucault's pendulum, which symbolically demonstrates the rotation of the Earth. A 244 m long colonnade is lined with up to 44 statues of ancient gods and prominent figures, making it feel like a true gallery in the open landscape. The geometric parterre garden is perfectly complemented by labyrinths, fountains, water features, a conical hedge, and the popular Strawberry Hills. Indeed, the entire place is designed as a living Baroque painting. On the sides of the Courtyard of Honour, classic tropical and cold greenhouses await visitors, where interesting subtropical and tropical plants can be viewed directly at the entrance to the garden.

General Information for Your Visit

This enchanting garden is an ideal place for families with children, who can fully enjoy the playful labyrinths, refreshing fountains, and captivating artistic elements in the landscape. Likewise, it will delight school groups and lovers of historical garden architecture who wish to discover the secrets of the Baroque and botany, as well as individuals, couples, and seniors seeking an oasis of peace for a relaxing stroll among artistic sculptures and picturesque perennial raised beds.

Barrier-free access is available. Entry with a dog is permitted on a leash. The average duration of a visit is about 60 minutes, which is more than sufficient to fully enjoy the rotunda, colonnade, parterres, and free movement in the labyrinth.

How to Get Here and What You Will Find Here

Květná zahrada is located west of the historical centre of Kroměříž, not far from Podzámecká zahrada. If traveling by car, parking is possible in the zone near the Archbishop's Chateau, from where the garden is within a pleasant walking distance. Public transport can also be used to the Kroměříž centre stop, from where clearly marked paths will guide visitors to the garden.

Right on-site, benches, pleasant shaded seating areas near the parterre, and various interesting exhibition installations await visitors to enrich their visit during the main season. In the immediate vicinity, a wide selection of cafes, restaurants, and pleasant spots to sit under the chateau's greenery can additionally be found, perfectly rounding off the atmosphere of the trip.

Květná zahrada in Kroměříž is a unique Baroque project combining art, botany, and historical exterior architecture. A place that attracts lovers of gardens, history, and peace. Free of charge, accessible to everyone.

A Botanical Treasure Hidden in a Quarry Beneath Štramberská Trúba

When the abandoned limestone quarry Dolní Kamenárka was transformed into a Botanical garden and arboretum Štramberk in 1999, a place with a completely unique atmosphere was created across an area of nearly ten hectares. This year-round, freely accessible open-air area represents a welcome oasis of biodiversity, history, and geological points of interest, where visitors are invited to head during daytime hours without worrying about admission fees. The combination of the protection of endangered species, a leisure space, and a unique landscape exhibition creates an ideal setting for a peaceful escape into nature amidst the mountains.

A Green Miracle Beneath Rock Faces

The garden focuses long-term on the protection of calcicolous and thermophilic vegetation, which is complemented by a well-conceived arboricultural exhibition and distinctive geological elements. Over 1,200 plant taxa have taken root in this diverse environment, including such rarities as the marsh helleborine, common butterwort, and dyer's greenweed. Life in the quarry is far from ending there, however – nearly 1,100 species of butterflies find a home here, among which the Apollo butterfly plays a leading role, as Štramberk is the very only locality in the Czech Republic where this successfully reintroduced species lives. The character of the landscape is rounded off by romantic wetland ponds, natural rockeries, and a sensitively constructed limestone biotope that provides ideal conditions for orchids and diverse communities of marsh plants. While wandering through the area, visitors will also encounter a symbolic stone labyrinth reminiscent of a sunny Mediterranean landscape or a mysterious pit with Pouťová jeskyně, which is currently being explored with anticipation by speleologists.

Practical Information for Every Visitor

A walk through the main area, during which the main parts of the garden can be traversed, local fauna encountered, relaxation by the ponds enjoyed, and a stop at the labyrinth or cave made, takes roughly an hour to an hour and a half. The arboretum is excellently adapted for all generations. Families with children will appreciate the combination of nature, playful activities, and the discovery of labyrinths; school groups and naturalists will find a perfect terrain for ecology, botany, or entomology here; and individuals, couples, and seniors will enjoy a well-deserved rest in an unconventional landscape. Furthermore, fully barrier-free access and the fact that entry is also permitted for dogs on a leash will please visitors.

How to Get Here and What Awaits Visitors

The arboretum is located in the western part of Štramberk at the foot of Bílá hora, just under seven hundred metres from the historical centre. If travelling by car, parking is possible near the football pitch or the primary school, from where a short forest path will guide visitors to the entrance. In the event of using public transport, it is sufficient to alight at the train or bus stop directly in Štramberk and continue on foot following the tourist markings. Inside the area, benches inviting visitors to sit by the water's surface or rocks and the unconventional environment of a former quarry full of discoveries await visitors. Once the tour is concluded, experiences from a peaceful morning or afternoon can be rounded off in one of the local restaurants, and the diverse range of services in the surroundings of the town can be utilised.

Zoologická zahrada Ostrava is currently the second largest in the Czech Republic and rightly ranks among the significant attractions of the Moravian-Silesian Region. It is located in the Slezská Ostrava district of Ostrava and was founded in 1951. However, it was not opened to the public until 1960.

Currently, approximately 400 species of animals roam an area of about 100 hectares. The zoo also boasts interactive exhibits, playgrounds, an eco-kitchen, and even a cemetery for extinct animals. Guided feedings take place here, and visitors have the opportunity to purchase themed souvenirs or take a ride on the tourist train. For complete comfort, a variety of refreshment stands and facilities for mothers with children are available.

An icon of the local zoo is the common hippopotamus, which also features in its logo. In 2013, the oldest hippo father in the world was a resident of this local zoo,  the hippo Honza. At the same time, the zoo strives to preserve endangered animal species, to which a contribution is made from every purchased ticket.

Thanks in part to this, it has been possible to build interesting exhibits such as Tanganika with hippos and crocodiles, the primate and elephant pavilion, the Pavilon evoluce (Evolution Pavilion), or the tiger enclosure. The complex also includes a botanical park with trails: Cesta vody (Path of Water), Cesta stínu (Path of Shadow), and Cesta lesa (Path of Forest), which is gradually transforming the character of the entire zoological garden.

Time at ZOO Ostrava will certainly pass quickly, so it is advisable to plan a trip for at least a few days to visit all the attractions that Ostrava has to offer. Whether you arrive with your family or just your partner, it is up to you whether you choose accommodation near ZOO Ostrava or in the wider surroundings.