The town of Šumperk, founded in the second half of the 13th century, experienced many periods of boom and prosperity during its long and rich history, but it also suffered several infamous and dark periods, such as the witch hunts in 1679-94. If you would like to know the entire history of the town, simply visit the most significant monuments in Šumperk, and if you want to learn a lot of interesting points from the history of the town, just visit one of the three themed guided tours through the town.

A walk from the 13th century to the 21st  century

During this walk, you will see the major sights of the town and you will learn about its entire history, including where and how the great fire occurred, why Moravian and Silesian estates of the realm arrived to Šumperk at the end of the 15th century, and what happened, when the Šumperk townsmen brought the remains of St Theodor from Rome. This tour lasts less than an hour and it begins in front of the town hall, from where the tour continues through Starobranská Street and Radniční Street to the Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary (Kostel Zvěstování Panny Marie), the interiors of which are part of the tour as well, then around the Geschader's House, around the former chateau and to the Church of St John the Baptist (Kostel Sv.Jana Křtitele), where you can see the most precious fragments of Gothic architecture in Šumperk. The tour ends near the Plague Column at the square called Náměstí Míru (Square of Peace).

Where the witches lived

This tour will introduce the darkest period of the history of Šumperk – the inquisitional witch hunts in 1679 - 1694. The wrath of the infamous inquisitor Jindřich František Boblig of Edelstatd had 25 innocent victims from the ranks of the citizens of Šumperk, including the dean Kryštof Alois Lautner known from the famous novel Kladivo na čarodějnice (Witchhammer). Due to this walking tour you will see where the victims of the witch hunts and their torturers lived and what stories and personal tragedies developed around the individual victims. The walk leads through a route similar to the previous tour, you will also see the churches Zvěstování Panny Marie (Annunciation of the Virgin Mary) and  Sv. Jana Křtitele (St John the Baptist), but the guide will take you from the Church of St John the Baptist to the former town prison and you will be shown where the procession of victims sentenced to execution went through.

Origin of “Little Vienna”

Buy the Malá Vídeň wafers (Little Vienna) to gain a free entrance ticket for two persons to the “Origin of Little Vienna” tour. You can find the voucher on the side of the wafer’s box. Then just show the cut out voucher to the guides.

Šumperk of the 19th century was one of the very important towns of the Habsburg Monarchy mostly due to the dynamic development of textile production, which was mainly the merit of leading Viennese businessmen, who settled in Šumperk, built factories and also hired architects to change the appearance of the town in such a manner that it could compete with the appearance of the capital city of Vienna. That is why Šumperk received the flattering nickname of “Little Vienna”. For more interesting information go on the walking tour called the “Origin of Little Vienna”.

Opening hours

Starting time of walking tours (every odd hour)

Entrance fee

Walking tours begin every odd hour. Before the tour, go to the guide station, where you can buy the entrance ticket and souvenirs. You can find the guide station in the underground floor of the town hall building at the address Náměstí Míru 1 (entrance is from the side of the building, where the Plague Column is). Last tour begins two hours before the end of opening hours.

Out of season tours for larger groups, i.e. from the beginning of October till the end of May, can be ordered at least 14 days in advance from Martina Holubcová, official of the Department of Culture and External Relations of the Division of Education, Culture and External Relations of the Municipal Authority of Šumperk, náměstí Míru 1, Šumperk, phone: 583 388 610, e-mail: pruvodce@sumperk.cz