Three days in Zlín will show you that the name Baťa represents far more than just shoes. You will discover how a small Wallachian village transformed into a modern city with sophisticated urban planning and unique architecture, harmoniously connected with nature and infused with a philosophy of work and life. You will explore the remarkable factory complex from which shoes were exported across the globe, enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the city, stroll among the red-brick houses set in greenery, and visit exceptional exhibitions and places that honour the legacy of Tomáš and Jan Antonín Baťa.
One of the first places you should head to is 14|15 BAŤA INSTITUTE in the factory complex. The sensitively restored industrial buildings house the unique exhibition The Baťa Principle: Today Fantasy, Tomorrow Reality, which not only offers insight into the history of the famous Baťa company, but also into how a small Wallachian village grew into a modern city with unmistakable architecture. The exhibition is located directly in the authentic spaces of the former factories, where the smell of leather and the sound of machines once accompanied the production of shoes that made Tomáš Baťa and the entire city world-famous.
Just a few steps from the 14|15 BAŤA INSTITUTE, visit one of Zlín’s icons – Building No. 21, the so-called Baťa skyscraper. Locals know it simply as Twenty-One. Inside, you will discover a unique lift office, the paternoster lift, the directors’ floor and an observation terrace on the 16th floor, offering the most beautiful view of the city. From this bird’s-eye perspective you can clearly see Zlín’s geometric precision and its division into green residential areas, shops and the extensive factory complex that formed the heart of the Baťa empire.
Once your head is full of inspiration and Baťa admiration, take a well-earned break in Komenský Park. It is the perfect place to unwind – enjoy a coffee or something to eat in one of the cafés and bistros, or simply stretch out on the grass. Children will have plenty of fun at the large playground with climbing frames, a chime installation, swings and other attractions. Summer evenings here are particularly lovely, with a pleasant atmosphere and live music events.
In the morning, head to one of Zlín’s most important landmarks – the glass Tomáš Baťa Memorial, which overlooks the city from the top of T. G. Masaryk Square. This exceptional building by architect F. L. Gahura, completed in 1933, is a jewel of world functionalism and a tribute to the visionary Tomáš Baťa. Step inside and be captivated by the clean lines of this fragile marvel, the play of light and shadow, and the space housing the Junkers F13 aircraft, a reminder of the company founder’s fateful accident. We recommend booking a tour in advance on the website www.pamatnikbata.eu in the Visit section.
After visiting the memorial, make your way to Tomášov. This important functionalist building was originally part of the Baťa education system and trained the best students of the Baťa School of Work. Today it houses a modern hotel with a reproductive medicine clinic. In the foyer, you can view historical photographs that shed light on student life and learn, for example, about the significance of wearing top hats. Afterwards, you can visit the hotel restaurant offering excellent cuisine, or enjoy a pleasant moment on the summer terrace with a relaxation area while taking in beautiful views of the city.
From the hotel, walk back towards the city centre. Between the dormitories beneath the memorial you will find a small brick house that is home to the Baťa Housing Infopoint. Here you can learn all about the typical Baťa houses, of which there are many in Zlín and which represent some of the city’s most stylish residential architecture. Explore the exhibition and then set off for a walk through the oldest residential district, Letná, which opens up beyond the Zlín ice rink. Let yourself be carried away by the atmosphere of a place where life was once lived according to Baťa principles. Visits to the Infopoint must be booked in advance at www.batovskydomek.cz.
For walks through Baťa housing districts, we recommend the Zlín Architectural Manual and its thematic Baťa housing routes. You can also pick up a map for a walk around Letná at the Tourist Information Centre.
End the day at the Zlín Department Store on náměstí Práce – one of the most striking buildings of Zlín and a key example of Baťa architecture. Here you will find restaurants, bistros, cafés and patisseries offering excellent food and drink. Choose a spot and enjoy views of Zlín’s most important landmarks – the Baťa skyscraper, the Tržnice (Market Hall) building, the Grand Cinema, Hotel Zlín, and the modern Congress and University Centre designed by architect Eva Jiřičná.
Would you like to learn more about the life of the founder and visionary Tomáš Baťa? Then head to his villa, where he lived with his family and turned his visions into reality. The villa is an important site in the centre of Zlín and a fine example of the villa architecture of its time. It is located near the factory complex, behind the Dřevnice River, and is surrounded by a beautiful garden. During the tour you will not only visit Tomáš Baťa’s personal office, furnished with period furniture and objects from his working life, but also the living room, library and the kitchen of his wife, Marie Baťa. It is said that the bedroom was the only room without a view of the factory. Whether this is true is something you will have to discover for yourself during your visit. Tours take place on the first Sunday of every month and must be booked in advance on the Tomáš Baťa Foundation website www.nadacetomasebati.cz/en in the Villa section.
After visiting the Baťa villa, take a walk through the factory complex and visit one of the former shoe production buildings – Building No. 44. Here you will find the Centre of Crafts with a shoemaking workshop, where you can try the craft that Tomáš Baťa made famous around the world. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, you will learn to work with leather and textiles and take home an original product – a leather key ring, belt, hand-stitched notebook, elegant handbag or handmade shoes. Visits to the workshop must be arranged in advance by phone at +420 793 924 669 (Monday–Friday,
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) or by email at majkus@44centrumremesel.cz. The workshop is not only suitable for individuals but also for private groups or companies – for example, as an unconventional team-building activity or inspiring workshop.
Subscribe to the newsletter
Register your e-mail address to receive regular information from our website
Back
