Czech Republic Guide
North Moravia
Bouzov
Accessible by bus from Olomouc (with a change at Litovel), the village of BOUZOV is nothing but its hrad (April & Oct Sat & Sun 9am–3pm; May– Sept Tues– Sun 9am–4pm; 
www.hrad-bouzov.cz ), a Romantic neo-Gothic fortress right on the high point of the vrchovina, and perfectly suited as a base for its former proprietors, the Teutonic Knights. Predictably enough, it also took the fancy of the Nazi SS, who used it as a base during World War II. The pompous pseudo-medievalism of the interior is not to everyone's taste, and the place is huge, so there's a choice of guided tours: trasa 1 (klasická; 100Kč) gives you an hour-long whirl around the place; trasa 2 (velká; 150Kč) lasts an extra fifty minutes and is for real enthusiasts, as is trasa 3 (mix speciál; 150Kč). Tours are in Czech only, so non-speakers should ask for an anglický text. The most characterful accommodation in the area is Valáškův grunt ( 
585 346 312, www.valaskuvgrunt.cz ; Price: 1001-1500Kč), 2km west in the nearby village of Kozov, a former manor house with plain, homely en suites, an arcaded garden courtyard and a small outdoor pool.