Moravian Gate Arboretum in Racibórz

The Moravian Gate Arboretum in Racibórz (Arboretum Bramy Morawskiej; Racibórz is pronounced roughly "rah-CHEE-boosh") is a free botanical garden and forest on the eastern edge of this town in southern Poland. Its roughly 162 hectares of hilly woodland hold plant collections, nature trails, a petting zoo and the Enchanted Garden – a flower-shaped hedge maze best seen from a viewing platform. It is an easy, low-cost day out, especially for families.

Where it is

Racibórz lies in Silesia, close to the Czech border, about 75 km southwest of Katowice (the nearest major airport) and roughly 70 km southeast of Opole. Ostrava in the Czech Republic is under an hour's drive away. The arboretum's main entrance is at Markowicka 17 in the Obora district, with free parking by the gate.

The name refers to the Moravian Gate, a lowland corridor between the Sudeten and Carpathian mountains, described as one of the warmest areas in Poland – which helps explain the rich plant life.

History

The Obora forest has never been cleared. It belonged to the Silesian Piast dukes and later to Cistercian monks before the town took it over in 1928, when Racibórz was the German town of Ratibor. Early medieval burial mounds survive in the woods. The arboretum was founded in 2000 to protect local habitats and endangered species.

What to see

• Enchanted Garden – about 1.1 hectares of plantings arranged as a five-petaled flower, opened in 2012 according to the regional tourism portal.
• Plant collections – irises, lilacs, daylilies, roses, climbers, bulbs and water plants.
• Mini zoo – peacocks, ponies, donkeys, Cameroon sheep and small animals.
• Historic stronghold and an archaeological site with 5th–9th-century burial mounds.
• Three ponds, educational trails, a fitness trail and a playground.

The woods are dominated by Scots pine, Norway spruce and English oak, some oaks over 200 years old. Botanists come for protected species such as green hellebore, martagon lily and early purple orchid. The arboretum also runs educational events – night walks and BioBlitz species counts – with sign-up by email.

Opening hours and admission

As of October 2026:

• Admission to the arboretum and its attractions is free.
• Enchanted Garden: daily from 7 am until dusk.
• Forest: open year-round from dawn to dusk.
• Mini zoo: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 am–6 pm in summer and 8 am–4 pm in winter, per the regional tourism portal – call ahead (+48 32 415 44 05) to confirm.

Visiting tips

Allow 2–3 hours. The terrain is hilly with forest paths, so it can be difficult for wheelchair users. Dogs are welcome on a leash, but not in the mini zoo or the Enchanted Garden, and bikes are not allowed on the educational trails. Signs are in Polish; the currency is the złoty (PLN). The best season is May to October, when the maze is green or turning gold.

Is it worth visiting? If you are exploring Silesia or crossing from the Czech Republic, yes – it is free, peaceful and great for children.