Southern Moravia

The region attracts visitors both with the proverbial hospitality and warmth of its people, as well as the rich folklore traditions and the wine growing industry. The art of wine making was brought to Southern Moravia by Ancient Romans; today, 96 percent of Czech vineyards are located in the region. The Moravian metropolis, Brno, is the second largest city in the Czech Republic; one of its unique monuments, the functionalist Villa Tugendhat, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The second UNESCO World Heritage monument in Southern Moravia is the Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, the largest artificial landscape in the world.

The region boasts many natural attractions: the Moravian Karst with beautiful, dripstone-decorated caves; the biosphere nature preserves of Pálava and Bílé Karpaty, or the Podyjí National Park will capture the heart of any visitor. The region’s architectural treasures include the monasteries in Rajhrad and Předklášteří u Tišnova, the fairytale-like castle of Pernštejn, built in the Gothic-Renaissance style, the chateaus in Lednice, Bučovice, Milotice, Slavkov u Brna, and Vranov nad Dyjí, or Bítov Castle. It is also worth visiting the region of Slovácko with its rich folklore customs and traditions, which have been preserved to this day.

The city of Brno is not only the regional metropolis, but also an important European trade fair location. Important architectural monuments include the Špilberk Fortress and SS Peter and Paul’s Cathedral in the Gothic style. Brno has been the home and birthplace of many important historical figures: the local theater is named after the world-famous composer Leoš Janáček; Johann Gregor Mendel, the founder of modern genetic science, spent his life in the local monastery.

Visitors looking for interesting pastimes should definitely pay a visit to one of the region’s numerous wine cellars, tour an educational wine-growing route, or try to pass the wine-makers’ test. Other leisure activities available include golfing, spa and wellness programs, or scenic river cruises.