Welcome to Beskydy2024
Beskydy and Venue
Beskydy is a rural region along the Czech-Slovak border. It is rich in natural capital, being dominated by forest ecosystems protected areas in both the Czech and Slovak republics. Historically, the area was settled in medieval times by sheep farmers arriving from South-East Europe after the Turkish occupation. This is known as the Valachy colonisation - Valachy is the present name of the region.
The geographical and geopolitical isolation has created a unique culture in this region over the centuries. The rich natural biodiversity coexists with cross-border cultural potential for small scale agro-forestry and tourism. Severe climate events such as floods, wind storms or dry summers with heat waves are frequently affecting this region and increase the risk of biodiversity loss and social instability. These are forming social dilemma of private versus community interests in water sharing management to prevent and mitigate climate risks affecting quality of forest cover and resilience. Moreover, the global pandemic highlighted the role of cooperation in a virtual space.
Beskydy act as COEVOLVERS LIVING LAB. Its objective is to co-create collaborative governance mechanisms for the climate-smart management of water and forests based on knowledge within the Beskydy community. It involves human and non-human actors and enhances collective action in the cross-border community of the Beskydy region.
The key concept is built on the Virtual Commons in which a common pool resource regime, which was established by Elinor Ostrom for local communities, is being developed. It is based on the digital platform to manage shared goods in online space. Their advantage is to address social dilemma under the distance relationships and multiple actors arena. Virtual Commons thus assume to improve cooperation and avoid the tragedy of the commons.
Venue of the workshop is Welness
Hotel Horal in Velké Karlovice a centre of cross border region Beskydy located 10 km from Slovak and Czech border. It is surrounded by picturesque protected nature of the Beskydy Mountains. It is a typical Wallachian village. There are several tourist attractions in the vicinity.
Sightseeing suggestions
The Vallachian Open Air Museum
The museum is in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm. It is the largest museum of its kind in the Czech Republic. It is thematically divided into three areas - Wooden Town, Wallachian Village and Water Mill Valley - in which original wooden buildings relocated from the surrounding areas as well as copies and reconstructions of historical buildings stand in the natural landscape. The museum appeals to visitors of all age groups through exhibitions created on the basis of real sdividuals or entire families living and working in Wallachia in the past. It is located here.
Kasárne hill
Kasárne is a magnificent view point on the border beween Slovakia and the Czech Republic located on the mountain ridge Javorníky. Historically, it has been a source of local conflicts of property rights. Nowadays, it is part of two conservation regimes and Natura 2000 site. Additionally, there is cross border skying area. Live cam.
The glassmaking museum
The glassmaking museum in Karolinka follows more than 300 year of history of handmade glass production. Unfortunatelly workshop end up as result of financial crises in 2008. Museum was established in August 2014 and presents the history, skill and art of master glassmakers not only in Karolinka, but also in Moravia. The exposition, is divided into several parts and contains over two thousand exhibits, tools needed to make glass, historical hand-drawn catalogs, workbooks of local employees. It is located here.
Pustevny
The wooden treetop walkway with a lookout tower is located approx. 250 meters from the upper station of the Pustevny cableway. The highlight of the trail is a 22-meter-high tower with a glass lookout point that evokes the feeling of floating in air and provides beautiful views of the Beskydy mountains. The trail has a number of stops where you will learn about the nature of the Beskydy Mountains. For ascent, you can also choose a unique 150-meter-long cableway, which you will not find anywhere else in the country. For Pustevny, wooden buildings built in traditional style are typical. There were designed and built by influential architect Dušan Jurkovič in the end of the 19th century. It is located here.
Travel
Via Bratislava/Vienna
By plane ✈
Bratislava airport (BTS): you can fly directly to Bratislava from several European cities. For direct flights check Flights map | Airport Bratislava (BTS) - official website.
You can get from the airport to the city centre & main train station by public transport network (MHD), bus No. 61.
Swechat Airport in Vienna (VIE) is about 40 km from Bratislava and offers many flight options. From airport Swechat to Bratislava: it is best to take SlovakLines or Flixbus. They run several times an hour, go to the bus station Nivy in Bratislava and than public transport to the train station. The journey takes less than an hour.
By train 🚆
There is a good train connection to Bratislava from several European countries: Austria, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Ukraine.
How do I get from Bratislava to Velké Karlovice?
By train 🚆 (from Bratislava main railway station)
Bratislava – Púchov, Slovakia (train 🚆)
The journey takes an hour and a half. Trains run 1-2 times per hour. Tickets and timetable here.
Púchov – Vsetín, Czech Republic (train 🚆)
From the station in Púchov, the journey takes less than 50 minutes, but the train runs only once every 2 hours. Tickets and timetable here.
Vsetín - Velké Karlovice, Czech Republic (train 🚆)
Timetable here. The train station is 8 km from Horal hotel. We recommend to take a taxi which costs about 170 CZK (7EUR). Contact taxi in section A.
or alternative by bus
Vsetín - Velké Karlovice, Czech Republic (BUS 🚌)
The bus runs 1x per hour, sometimes 1x every 2 hours. The nearest stop is 900 m from the Wellnes Hotel Horal, called "Leskové, Pod javorem", transport connections.
Travel via Prague
By plane ✈
You can fly directly to Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) from many european countries. There are several ways to travel from the airport to the main railway station in Prague (Hlavní nádraží Praha): by bus, tram, night bus, taxi shuttle, or towncar. However, we recommend taking the bus as the bus stop is conveniently located right outside the airport:
For public transport schedule, purchasing train and bus tickets we recommend to use this site.
DO NOT FORGET TO PURCHASE A TICKET FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND VALIDATE IT BEFORE BOARDING THE BUS/TRAM, ETC.
How do I get from Prague to Velké Karlovice?
Praha – Vsetín (train 🚆)
EC train departs every 2 hours, the journey takes about 4 hours (railway company České Dráhy train heading to Púchov, Slovakia).
Vsetín - Velké Karlovice (BUS 🚌)
Operates 1x per hour, sometimes 1x every 2 hours. The nearest stop is 900 m from the Wellnes Hotel Horal, called "Leskové, Pod javorem"; transport connections.
General information:
Money: Czech Republic: Czech crown (CZK); 1 EUR ~ 25 CZK
Slovakia: Euro (EUR)
Electric bicycle rental: here
Car rental Vsetín: offer
Taxi RS Jaroslav Smazal: taxi +420 604874902 / +420 734466651
To book a taxi we advise to send an SMS message to the taxi driver. Please include your name, date & time of your arrival to Velke Karlovice, whether you need to be pick up at the train or bus station and your final destination Horal Hotel. Taxi driver speaks limited English.
Taxi trip from train station Velke Karlovice to Hotel Horal costs approximately 170 CZK (~7 EUR). Payment cards are also accepted.
CONTACT PERSON FOR LOGISTICS is Ivana Vybochova at info@beskydy2024.eu