Soláň

Soláň (861 m above sea level) is one of the most beautiful and most visited spots in the Vsetínské vrchy hills. Thanks to its unique atmosphere, far-reaching views of the Beskydy ridges and well-preserved folk culture, it has earned the nicknames "the hill of artists" and "the Wallachian Olympus". For decades, painters, writers and musicians have created here, inspired by the rugged beauty of the Wallachian countryside.

The summit lies on the ridge of the Vsetínské vrchy, at the meeting point of three municipalities – Hutisko-Solanec, Karolinky and Velké Karlovice. Unlike most Beskydy hills, Soláň is inhabited: clearings, cottages and mountain hotels are scattered across its slopes, and in the early 20th century there was even a school here, jokingly known as the "university".

The Hill of Artists

Soláň's artistic tradition was launched by the academic painter Alois Schneiderka, who built himself a studio here in 1939. It hosted exhibitions and gatherings with leading figures of Czech culture. His homestead was later home to the landscape and portrait painter Karel Hofman, who lived and painted there. The painters Jan Kobzáň and František Podešva are also associated with Soláň; they developed the idea of a gallery on a hilltop, far from the bustle of the city.

Soláň has also made its way into music. Leoš Janáček set to music Maxmilián Kunert's poem Na Soláni čarták (The Inn on Soláň) – a piece for male choir and orchestra that portrays the boisterous merrymaking of the Wallachians in the Čarták roadside inn.

What to See on Soláň

• Zvonice Soláň (the Soláň Bell Tower): An information centre and gallery whose appearance recalls a traditional Wallachian bell tower. It opened in 2006 and grew out of the idea of the painter František Podešva. It offers a permanent exhibition of Wallachian artists as well as solo shows by painters, sculptors, woodcarvers and photographers, and hosts the Painters' Trails around Soláň and a sculpture and woodcarving symposium.
• Horský hotel Čarták: A traditional stop in the saddle below the summit, made famous by Janáček's composition. Hikers still stop here today for Wallachian cuisine.
• The Soláň – Galerie v přírodě nature trail (Gallery in Nature): It begins at the Bell Tower and leads through the landscape past open-air sculptures.
• Views: From the ridge, panoramas open up over the Javorníky hills, Radhošť and the surrounding Wallachian ridges. In good visibility you can see as far as the Slovak mountains, such as the Malá Fatra.

How to Get to Soláň

By car: A road runs through the saddle below the summit between Hutisko-Solanec and Velké Karlovice, so you can drive right up. There are car parks by the hotels and the ski resort in the saddle.

On foot: A popular option is a roughly 11-kilometre loop from Čarták past the Bell Tower along the ridge to Jezerné, on to Kotlová and back over the ridge, past the Gigula bistro and the Gallery in Nature. Hiking trails also lead to Soláň from Velké Karlovice and from Hutisko-Solanec.

When to Visit Soláň

Soláň is worth visiting in every season. In summer and autumn it tempts with ridge walks and views, and autumn mornings often bring temperature inversions, when the ridges of the Javorníky rise out of a sea of fog. In winter the Skiareál Soláň-Sedlo ski resort is open, with slopes of varying difficulty, night skiing and cross-country trails.

The best way to get a feel for the atmosphere of the place is the 360° virtual tour at the top of the page – take a look around the ridge before you set off.

Tip: Stop at the viewpoint by the Bell Tower in the early evening – at sunset and during inversions, Soláň offers some of the most impressive panoramic views of the opposite Radhošť massif.