We set off on a road trip toward the Jeseníky Mountains in the Czech Republic. The drive from Slovakia was long, but it unexpectedly delivered a fantastic spontaneous adventure!
When we left home, we had no idea the Lupěné Open-Air Railway Museum (Železniční skanzen Lupěné) even existed. However, driving past the city of Zábřeh in Moravia, a brown historic landmark sign caught our attention. It was just the kind of detour sign that disrupts travel plans in the best possible way.
Since one of our travel companions happens to be a passionate railway enthusiast, we didn’t hesitate for a second. We pulled off the main highway, followed the local back roads, and drove straight into the quiet village of Lupěné.
A Bicycle Highway Built on Railway History
We parked at the edge of the village and continued on foot. Here, a smooth asphalt path for cyclists, inline skaters, and walkers precisely follows an abandoned railway line.
Lupěné is not a traditional museum enclosed by fences and ticket booths. The entire exhibition is actually an open-air rail-trail built directly on the converted embankment of a historic main line between Lupěné and Hněvkov.
Right at the start of the trail stands the main highlight—a fully restored Class 317 steam locomotive built in 1950.
Visitors are free to climb inside the driver’s cab and explore the mechanical controls. Having a railway expert in our group made it even better, as we received a detailed tour of every lever, valve, and pressure gauge inside the engine!
💡 Quick Lupěné Trail Facts:
- Trail Distance: 2.5 kilometers one-way (5 km round trip) along a smooth, fully paved surface—ideal for cycling, inline skating, and family strollers.
- Educational Nature Trail: Features informative panels detailing local railway history, industrial engineering, and regional wildlife.
- 1902 Steel Bridges: The path crosses three original steel railway bridges built in 1902, passing historic signalman huts and stone milestone markers.
- The Hněvkov Tunnel: The trail culminates at a converted 82-meter historic railway tunnel near Hněvkov.
Vintage Signals, Steel Bridges, and a Convertible Tunnel
We walked along the path to explore the rest of this unusual outdoor exhibition.
Dotted along the trail are vintage mechanical crossing gates, railway semaphores, and historical signal posts collected from closed stations and regional locomotive depots. Each exhibit offers a tangible reminder of the era when heavy freight and passenger trains rumbled through this valley instead of quiet bicycles.
The 2.5-kilometer path crosses three riveted steel bridges dating back to 1902, passing stone guard houses and original railway kilometer posts.
What makes rail-trails so special is that history isn’t locked away behind museum glass. You walk, cycle, or skate directly on top of the engineering heritage.
The path ends at a historic 82-meter railway tunnel near Hněvkov. While a 2.5-kilometer path takes only minutes on a bike or inline skates, walking back and forth on foot takes longer. We decided to save the tunnel exploration for our next trip when we bring our bicycles along!
Spontaneous detours frequently yield the most memorable travel stops. If you ever find yourself driving or cycling through Moravia toward the Jeseníky Mountains, the Lupěné Rail-Trail is well worth a visit!
