Situated in Moravia's north on the western section of the Oder's upper stream, Bruntál is dipped in the cushions of vast forests, constituting one of the bases to conquer the Ash Mountains (the Jeseníky.) The mountain range is perhaps Czechia's highest-value natural reserve. Bruntál came into being at the break of the l2th and l3th centuries during the Ash Mountain colonisation. The town drew its prosperity from the exploitation of precious metals in the l7th century of which the miner in the coat-of-arms is reminiscent today. Industry invaded the town in the l8th and l9th centuries establishing several textile factories, public hospital, high schools and professional training institutions. Typical features of the colonisation times are the rectangular grid of streets and the square-formed square. New shops, wine restaurants and fast-food stores are trying to adjust to the traditional air of old architecture, most of which shows baroque and classical features. Bruntál's collection of architectural sights consists of the château, a sample of Scandinavian Renaissance later converted in the baroque spirit; the parochial Virgin Mary Assumption Church of the l3th century; the Piarist church and monastery; St Michal's Graveyard Chapel from 1674; the 1755 baroque Church of the Helping Virgin Mary atop the Uhlířský Hill; etc. Bruntál has a strategic location for tourists and holidaymakers. The beautiful countryside of the Ash Mountains has been interweaved with a grid of hiking paths. The rather harsh local climate is a blessing for the lovers of ski.ing and winter sports. The highest peak of Praděd gets a standard 150-200 cm thick cap of snow each winter. Beside sports, Bruntál offers a balance in terms of culture and social life. The Town Museum displays several permanent and temporary exhibitions. If you go in for physical exercise, massages and solar bathing why not visit any of the many fitness centres. The indoor swimming-pool is open to the public with additional facilities like steam baths, massages and a skating rink in winter. Sauna and outdoor swimming are at hand. To sum it up, Bruntál offers a good mixture of anything a holiday can consist of -history as old. as l3th century; beautiful, almost wild nature, and architectural sights old and new.