Velké Losiny, village in Šumperk District of Olomouc region
Velké Losiny is a small municipality in the Czech Republic, situated in a valley along a river and surrounded by hills and forests. The settlement features a Renaissance castle from the late 1500s with three wings and a tall narrow tower, later enlarged in Baroque style, which today contains ornately decorated rooms and frescoes open to visitors.
The settlement was first mentioned in 1296 and became significant with the building of a castle and paper mill in the late 1500s. In the 17th century, the castle became the site of witch trials where innocent people were pursued, before the region later developed into a known spa destination.
The town is known for its papermaking tradition, which remains alive in Europe's oldest still-operating handmade paper mill. Visitors can watch craftspeople work with historical techniques and understand why these papers have been valued for generations.
The settlement is well accessible by train and road, with several train stations nearby that allow travelers to arrive and explore the surroundings. Visitors can walk through quiet streets, tour the castle, visit the paper mill, or use the surrounding forests and hills for hiking.
The castle was the site of 17th-century witch trials where priest J.F. Boblig used torture to find alleged witches and persecuted many innocent people. These dark chapters of history are now documented through exhibitions that recall these tragic events.
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