Praděd

Praděd (Pradziad in Polish), at 1,491 m, is the highest peak of the whole Jeseníky, lower only than a few summits in the Krkonoše. Its summit, which rises above the tree line, has the harshest climate of any ski resort in the Czech Republic, and it is also home to the highest pistes not only in Moravia but in the whole country. Thanks to the high altitude the snow cover lasts until mid-May; the only obstacles to running the resort smoothly for 6 months a year are the frequent cloud and strong winds. Even so, the place fully deserves the jokey title skiers have given it: the “Moravian glacier”. The pistes lie in the head of the Bílá Opava valley, on the southern slopes of Praděd, and on the northern slopes of Petrovy kameny (1,438 m), which is where the highest pistes in the Czech Republic are. Skiers will find pistes of varying difficulty, from gentle beginners' slopes to a difficult slalom piste. In total there are six lifts (there is no chairlift because of the strong winds), and the pistes total almost 5 km. There are also more than 44 km of cross-country trails in the area. There is a charge for driving up to the car parks right by the lifts, but you can leave your car at the large car park at Karlova Studánka and take the ski bus from there. It goes to the charming Ovčárna clearing, with several old wooden mountain huts and new hotels. A night just below the summit of Praděd is not cheap, but it is unforgettable, especially when the moon is out and you can admire the mountains rising above a sea of cloud and mist in the moonlight. And of course, while staying at the resort you simply must climb to the summit of Praděd. On top stands a television tower more than 145 m tall (it used to be 162 metres), with a restaurant and a viewing terrace: in good visibility the views reach from Sněžka in the west to the Tatras in the east, the Malá Fatra in the south-east and the Schneeberg massif in the Alps to the south.