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Museum of Modern Art is the pale grey Art Nouveau building across from the baroque Lady Mary of the Snows church. The permanent collection is okay, but the temporary exhibitions are often very interesting and well worth the entrance fee. There’s a small lookout tower at the top which is included in the entry price of the museum.
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Vlastivědné Muzeum
The museum is housed in the former Clarisian convent on Náměstí Republiky (Republic Square). There are the usual collection of rocks and artifacts, and an interesting exhibit of the flora and fauna of the region, but probably the best things to see are in the old Olomouc section; woodcuts and prints from previous centuries, weapons, armour, traditional dress and many of the original religious figures from older versions of the astronomical clock.
Kostel sv. Michala
The church appears quite plain from the outside; however, the baroque interior is one of the most beautiful in Central Europe. One notable feature is a painting of an apparently pregnant Virgin Mary, quite rare in a Catholic church. It’s also possible to enter the old monastery attached to the side of the church and climb its bell tower.
Arcibiskupský palác
The official seat of Olomouc bishops and archbishops. It was in this building on 2 December 1848, that Franz Joseph acceded to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Hapsburg Empire.
Kostel sv. Mořice
A beautifully preserved Gothic church dating from 1398. One of its highlights is the massive Engler organ, one of the largest in Europe. The organ is the focus of the international music festival in September/October and the Christmas Music festival every year. The tower of the church offers a magnificent 360-degree view over the city and countryside and is accessed via a graceful double-spiral staircase.
It was constructed in the 15th century, but takes its present appearance from the 1950s, during a refurbishment to repair damage inflicted in World War II. Czechoslovakia was under Communist rule by then and the clock reflects the values of the day, the saints and angels being replaced by scientists, sportspeople and labourers. At noon the clock has a presentation that is unique to its structure and construction. There is one other astronomical clock in the Czech lands (in the other ancient capital, Prague), but as a surviving example of Socialist-Realism, the Olomouc Astronomical clock is unique world-wide. It is another popular rendezvous point in the city.
The Botanical gardens are in two parts; the outdoor exhibits and rose gardens are across the stream from Bezruč gardens.