South Moravia is also home to the Slovácko area, a colourful place of folk songs, costumes and celebrations. Then there’s the Znojmo District and the Podyjí National Park boasting a procession of medieval castles, which once kept watch over the border. The symbol of South Moravia must, however, be the grape, and any trip to the region should include a spin around the wine-producing areas and a tasting session where you can sample the various local reds and whites. Why not begin a wine tour at the National Wine Exhibition in the cellars of Baroque Valtice Chateau, at the wine exhibition at Mikulov Chateau or on one of the well known wine trails in the Pálava area or along the River Dyje. And don’t forget about the old monasteries in Rajhrad u Brna, Dolní Kounice and Předklášteří u Tišnova, which recall the cultural traditions of SS Cyril and Methodius, or the windmill at Kuželov, the old ironworks near Adamov and the many other industrial heritage sites scattered across the region.
Vila Tugendhat in Brno’s Černá Pole suburb – One of the pivotal works of functionalist architecture, this villa was built in the years 1929–1930 by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. It was the first piece of modern architecture in the Czech Republic and only the fourth in the world to be listed by UNESCO. The villa is currently undergoing extensive renovation.
Lednice-Valtice area – Sometimes dubbed the Garden of Europe, the largest landscaped park in the world is a UNESCO-listed site covering an area of 200km
2 between Lednice, Valtice and Břeclav. In addition to the chateaux at
Lednice and
Valtice you’ll also find a number of follies dotted around the landscape. These include chapels, colonnades, the
artificial ruins of Janohrad Castle and an triumphal arch.
Podyjí National Park – The 40km-long valley of the River Dyje with its deep-gouged meanders, rock faces and stone seas between Vranov nad Dyjí and Znojmo is the focal point of a unique habitat occupied by many protected species of flora and fauna. The visitors centre in Čížov has a permanent exhibition and you can also see a real piece of the Iron Curtain.
Lower Morava – This UNESCO biosphere reserve links up three wonders of nature: the limestone cliffs of the
Pálava protected area, areas of alluvial forest at the confluence of the Dyje and Morava rivers and the
Lednice-Valtice landscaped park.
National Wine Exhibition in Valtice – Every year the most prestigious wine competition in the country chooses 100 of the best wines to be featured the following year at the public tasting exhibition in the period cellars beneath
Valtice Chateau. Wines can be tasted and bought here.
Mikulov – The dominant feature of the town is the Baroque
chateau, once the main residence of the Dietrichstein family but now housing the
Regional Museum with its historical and wine-related exhibitions and a gallery. Fine views of the town can be had from
Holy Hill, atop which stands the Church of St Sebastian. A path lined with fifteen chapels leads to the church, and another trail takes you through the Jewish quarter where there’s a
synagogue and cemetery.
Znojmo – This town has a wonderful Renaissance centre and a publically accessible network of
underground passageways. The castle complex includes the
Romanesque Rotunda of St Catherine boasting a truly unique set of 12th-century frescoes. The view from the top of the town hall tower and the
Loucký Monastery with its Basilica of the Virgin Mary and St Wenceslas (boasting a Romano-Gothic crypt) are also well worth seeking out.
Castles and chateaux – Most of South Moravia’s aristocratic residences are well known beyond the borders of the region. They include
Pernštejn,
Bítov,
Cornštejn,
Nový hrad,
Nový Hrádek,
Veveří and Brno’s own
Špilberk, as well as chateaux and mansions at
Boskovice,
Bučovice,
Lednice,
Lysice,
Milotice,
Rájec nad Svitavou,
Slavkov u Brna,
Valtice and
Vranov nad Dyjí.
