A twin town at the confluence where the Morávka empties into the Ostravice, regional centre of a vast mountainous country split between the historic lands of Moravia nad Silesia, a town of 65,000-all of these is Frýdek-Místek. Traditional centre of economy, culture, and local administration, crossing point of transport routes with branches to the close mountains. Intersected by the transEuropean artery E 462, FrýdekMístek is linked to Europe's south and north providing an additional crossing with the local east-west road and rail links issuing from Ostrava and heading east to the holiday areas of the Beskids (Beskydy). Strategic as its geographical position is, it offers trips to the airport at Mošnov, centre of Ostrava and a few border crossings to Poland within 20 km. Slovakia is further east, behind the mountains whose ranges emerge just at Frýdek-Místek's town line. Easy to recognise is the fact that Frýdek and Místek had been two separate municipalities until World War Two. Founded to support the crafts (l3th century Místek and early l4th century Frýdek), they have experienced an explosive development of local industries since last century's middle. But Frýdek-Místek could resist the uniforming pressure, retaining unique, individual features till date. The best testimony possible to support the statement are the freshly restored old centres of both parts. Most spectacular among the witnesses of the past is Frýdek's château sitting like a royal crown atop the Ostravice's steep right bank. But do not let yourself distract from more valued architectural sights, most of them sacral. First of all, let us mention the pilgrimage church of Our Lady of Frýdek a short way uphill from the château; or the rococo parochial church of St John and St Paul in Místek; the parochial St John the Baptist's Church, originally Gothic; or the late-Renaissance St Jošt's Church in Frýdek; Místek's oldest St Jacob's Church and a small All Saints' Church near the dominating St John and St Paul's. Secular architecture also left some pieces of testimony here-beside the burgher houses around and not far from both central squares, the town has a number of public buildings dating back to the last break of centuries most of which show historicising and Art-Nouveau features. Apropos, culture. Numerous festivals live in the town: Children's Folklore Music Choir Festival; parts of Janáček Musical Lašsko Festival; meetings of amateur theatre ensembles. Man y people's choice is "Singing Under The Lime Tree"-a chain of song evenings in the château. Last but not least, the cultural tradition has recentl y revived Our Lady's wakes. Invaluable, close, and within easy access by car, train, bike or simply on foot-the Beskids throughout the year. You can hike, you can bike, or you can swim and enjoy water sports in and around the three dams (Olešná, Žermanice, Baška). If you prefer to stay in town and have a good sporting time all the same, why not use the swimming-pools, one outdoor, the other indoor, or the sports hall which is occasional stage of international sports events like the junior icehockey world championships. Many playgrounds, athletic sports area, tennis courts, the riding-school with training course... No less attractive are some places in Frýdek-Místek's neighbourhood in winter. There is a sküng centre at Palkovice, a ski lift at Chlebovice a few minutes out of town and many more within a few dozens of minutes' ride. The country around also shows man-made sights, like the Castle of Hukvaldy, examples of folk architecture, wooden churches at Sedliště, Řepiště and Guty, or, a few kilometers farther in the country, at Štramberk, Pustevny, and atop the Radhošť Mountain.

Místek's square with cloisters of stone

The Hukvaldy Castle

The oldest church in Frýdek -St John the Baptist's

The Olešná Dam

Coat-of-arms