Jansky Vrch

Jansky Vrch stands above Javornik in the far north of Moravia, close to the Polish border, and it was the residence of the prince-bishops of Wroclaw, who held this enclave for centuries and rebuilt the medieval castle into a comfortable rococo chateau in the 1750s and 1760s. The interiors are furnished from that period and later. Its unusual holding is a collection of smoking pipes and tobacco accessories, several thousand items covering three centuries and many countries, which is among the larger such collections in Europe and one of the few displayed in a historic house rather than a specialist museum. Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf, the composer, was kapellmeister to the bishop here for two decades from 1770 and died in the region; his rooms and material are shown and a music festival carries his name. The park around is English landscape.

What you actually see

• A prince-bishops' residence - rebuilt in rococo in the 1750s and 1760s.
• Several thousand pipes - one of the larger such collections in Europe.
• Dittersdorf's rooms - the composer who worked here for two decades from 1770.
• An English park - laid out around the chateau on the hill.

When to go

April to October. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Guided tours only, seasonal, closed in winter. The walk up from Javornik is steep. The region is remote and public transport limited. Festival dates change the access.

Nearby

Jesenik and the Rychleby hills are east; the Polish border is close.