Moravia
5
Day Itinerary •
Czech Republic
Five days in Moravia takes you through the most culturally rich and least visited region of the Czech Republic. Moravia's extraordinary wine country in the south, the remarkable Moravian Karst with its extraordinary cave systems, the fine historic city of Brno with its remarkable functionalist architecture and the outstanding UNESCO heritage of Olomouc make it the finest undiscovered region in Central Europe. This route covers the complete Moravian experience. The extraordinary Macocha Abyss and Punkva Caves in the Moravian Karst, the remarkable Brno functionalist villa Tugendhat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the extraordinary Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, the remarkable Mikulov wine town, the fine Stramberk rock town and the outstanding Olomouc baroque fountains UNESCO site.
Best Time To Visit
April to October, September for grape harvest
Getting There
Fly to Brno (BRQ) or train from Prague 2.5 hours
Getting Around
Rental car for countryside, tram in Brno
Budget Per Day
Approx 1,000 to 2,500 CZK per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate
DAY 1
BRNO, CAPITAL OF MORAVIA
MORNING
BRNO OLD TOWN AND ZELNY TRH
Brno, the capital of Moravia and the second city of the Czech Republic, has the most extraordinary combination of Gothic, Baroque and Modernist architecture of any Czech city. The remarkable Zelny Trh, the vegetable market in a fine Baroque square, the outstanding Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul on its dramatic hill and the remarkable Spilberk Castle with its extraordinary casemate dungeons are all outstanding. The fine Brno clockwork at the bottom of Zelny Trh plays at 11 o'clock, not noon, in honour of a remarkable 1645 battle. Free. Travel: 2.5 hours from Prague
MIDDAY
VILLA TUGENDHAT UNESCO
Villa Tugendhat, the extraordinary 1930 functionalist villa designed by Mies van der Rohe for the Tugendhat family, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the finest piece of modernist architecture in Central Europe. The remarkable onyx wall, the extraordinary open-plan living space, the fine retractable glass walls opening to the garden and the outstanding story of the Jewish family who fled the Nazis make it remarkable. Entry approx 350 CZK. Book months ahead. Travel: 20 min tram
AFTERNOON
BRNO OSSUARY AND OLD TOWN EVENING
The Brno Ossuary beneath the Church of St James, discovered in 2001 and containing the remains of 50,000 people in the most extraordinary underground crypt in the Czech Republic, is the second largest ossuary in Europe after Paris. The remarkable arrangement of bones in the crypt and the outstanding exhibition on the extraordinary history of the site are both remarkable. Entry approx 180 CZK.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Capuchin Monastery crypt in Brno, where 18th-century Capuchin monks were mummified by the extraordinary natural airflow and are displayed in their original habits, is the most unusual tourist attraction in Moravia. Entry approx 80 CZK.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Podnebí or Brno central cafe The finest Brno morning coffee in the extraordinary second city. | Lunch: Zelny Trh food stalls Outstanding fresh Moravian produce at the finest open-air market. | Dinner: Paštika, Brno The finest modern Moravian cuisine in Brno's best restaurant.
DAY 2
MORAVIAN KARST
MORNING
MORAVIAN KARST PUNKVA CAVES
The Punkva Caves in the Moravian Karst are the most extraordinary cave system in the Czech Republic. The remarkable underground boat journey along the subterranean Punkva River through the extraordinary stalactite and stalagmite formations to the base of the Macocha Abyss, the most dramatic sinkhole in Central Europe at 138 metres deep, is the finest underground experience in the country. Entry approx 250 CZK. Book ahead. Travel: 45 min drive north
MIDDAY
MACOCHA ABYSS UPPER VIEWPOINT
The Macocha Abyss, the most extraordinary geological feature in Moravia, is 138 metres deep and 174 metres long. The remarkable Upper Bridge viewpoint gives the finest view into the extraordinary abyss, with the two Punkva lakes at the bottom visible from above and the cave entrance where the underground boat journey begins. The outstanding forest above the karst landscape and the remarkable Skalní Mlýn valley are both fine. Entry viewpoints approx 60 CZK. Travel: 30 min walk
AFTERNOON
BLANSKO AND KARST VILLAGES
The fine town of Blansko below the Moravian Karst has the most extraordinary cast iron manufacturing tradition in Moravia, the remarkable iron foundry museum and the outstanding Blansko Palace. The fine karst villages of Vilémovice and Ostrov u Macochy above the abyss are the most remarkable karst settlements in the Czech Republic. Return to Brno for the evening. Free to explore.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Kate n inská Cave in the Moravian Karst, the finest cave for massive stalactite and stalagmite formations in the system, is less visited than the Punkva but equally remarkable. Entry approx 150 CZK.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Brno hotel Good breakfast before the Macocha drive. | Lunch: Skalní Mlýn valley restaurant Traditional Moravian lunch near the extraordinary cave entrance. | Dinner: Brno wine bar Outstanding Moravian white wine in the finest Brno wine cellar.
DAY 3
MIKULOV WINE TOWN AND LEDNICE
MORNING
MIKULOV WINE TOWN
Mikulov, the most extraordinary wine town in the Czech Republic, sits below its remarkable Baroque chateau on a rocky hill above the Moravian wine country. The remarkable Renaissance and Baroque old town, the outstanding Jewish Quarter with the fine former synagogue complex and the extraordinary views of the South Moravian vineyard landscape from the chateau hill are all outstanding. The remarkable wine cellars beneath the town produce the finest Moravian white wines. Entry chateau approx 150 CZK. Travel: 1 hour drive south
MIDDAY
MIKULOV WINE CELLARS AND VINEYARD WALK
The extraordinary wine cellars beneath Mikulov's remarkable old town, cut into the chateau hill, produce the finest Welschriesling, Pinot Blanc and Palava wines in Moravia. The outstanding Mikulov wine trail through the remarkable vineyard landscape to the fine Svaty Kopecek hill gives the finest combination of wine tasting and walking in South Moravia. The extraordinary views of the Austrian border from the vineyard paths are outstanding. Tasting approx 200 CZK. Travel: 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
LEDNICE UNESCO CHATEAU AND PARK
Lednice, 15km from Mikulov, is the centrepiece of the extraordinary Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, the most remarkable man-made landscape in Central Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The extraordinary neo-Gothic chateau, the remarkable English landscape park with its fine follies and the outstanding Minaret viewpoint are all remarkable. The extraordinary boat trip on the Dyje River through the park is outstanding. Entry chateau approx 280 CZK. Travel: 20 min drive
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Valtice chateau, partner to Lednice in the UNESCO Cultural Landscape and the finest Baroque palace in South Moravia, has the most outstanding wine cellars in Moravia in its extraordinary vaulted basement. Entry approx 200 CZK.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Mikulov guesthouse or Brno hotel Good breakfast before the drive south. | Lunch: Mikulov wine restaurant Outstanding Moravian food with the finest local white wines. | Dinner: Mikulov cellar dinner The finest wine cellar dinner in the Czech Republic.
DAY 4
KROMERIZ AND OLOMOUC
MORNING
KROM nn ÍŽ UNESCO CHATEAU AND GARDENS
Krom nn íž, the extraordinary Baroque town on the Morava River, has a UNESCO World Heritage chateau and gardens that are the finest Baroque ensemble in the Czech Republic. The remarkable Archbishop's Palace with its outstanding gallery containing the finest painting collection in Moravia, the extraordinary Flower Garden in the French style and the outstanding English Park with its remarkable Round Colonnade are all remarkable. Entry approx 250 CZK. Travel: 1 hour drive northeast
MIDDAY
OLOMOUC AND THE BAROQUE FOUNTAINS
Olomouc, the most extraordinary city in Moravia and one of the finest in the Czech Republic, has the most remarkable collection of Baroque fountains of any city in Central Europe. The outstanding Holy Trinity Column, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest Baroque plague column in the world, and the remarkable Olomouc astronomical clock, the only one in the Czech Republic where the figures are workers rather than saints, are both outstanding. Column free. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
OLOMOUC OLD TOWN AND ST WENCESLAS CATHEDRAL
Olomouc's extraordinary old town, the most underrated in the Czech Republic, has the finest Baroque architecture outside Prague. The remarkable St Wenceslas Cathedral, the outstanding Premysl Palace with extraordinary Romanesque frescoes and the fine Olomouc cheese market are all outstanding. The remarkable Olomouc tvaruzky cheese, the most pungent and celebrated in the Czech Republic, is the finest food souvenir in Moravia. Cathedral free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Svaty Kopecek Basilica above Olomouc, the most important pilgrimage church in Moravia, has the finest Baroque interior outside Brno and outstanding views of the Olomouc plain from its hilltop. Entry approx 30 CZK.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Mikulov or en route hotel Good breakfast before the Kromeriz drive. | Lunch: Olomouc old town restaurant Outstanding Moravian svickova in the finest underrated Czech city. | Dinner: Olomouc wine bar Excellent Moravian wine evening in the city of fountains.
DAY 5
STRAMBERK AND BESKYDY
MORNING
STRAMBERK ROCK TOWN
Stramberk, the most extraordinary rock town in Moravia, is built entirely on and around a remarkable limestone cone with a fine medieval tower on the summit. The extraordinary wooden houses climbing the rock, the remarkable Sibyla tower giving the finest view of the Beskydy Mountains and the outstanding Stramberk ears, the finest local biscuit in the Czech Republic baked in the shape of the Turkish ears allegedly cut from enemies in 1241, are all remarkable. Tower entry approx 60 CZK. Travel: 1 hour drive southeast
MIDDAY
BESKYDY MOUNTAINS AND RADHOST
The Beskydy Mountains, the finest mountain landscape in Moravia, rise behind Stramberk to the remarkable Radhost peak at 1,129 metres with its extraordinary pagan statue of the Slavic god Radegast. The fine walk from Pustevny through the outstanding mixed forest to the remarkable Radhost summit gives the finest Moravian highland experience. The extraordinary wooden church on Radhost and the fine views of Slovakia are outstanding. Free. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
VELEHRAD AND RETURN
Velehrad Basilica, the most important pilgrimage site in Moravia and the place where Saints Cyril and Methodius brought Christianity to the Slavs in 863, is the finest Baroque basilica in Moravia. The remarkable pilgrimage tradition, the outstanding frescoes and the extraordinary significance of Velehrad in Slavic cultural history make it a remarkable final destination. Return to Brno or Prague. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Roznov pod Radhostem open-air museum, the largest folk architecture museum in the Czech Republic, preserves remarkable traditional Moravian timber houses in an extraordinary hillside setting near Stramberk. Entry approx 200 CZK.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Olomouc hotel Good breakfast before the Stramberk drive. | Lunch: Stramberk old town restaurant Traditional Moravian lunch with the extraordinary Beskydy view. | Dinner: Return journey dinner Farewell to Moravia. Final Czech meal on the way to Brno or Prague.
Where To Stay
Brno, Nights 1 to 2 Excellent city hotels near Zelny Trh. Approx 1,200 to 2,500 CZK per night. Mikulov, Nights 3 to 4 Fine wine country guesthouses. Approx 1,000 to 2,000 CZK per night. Booking ahead Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead in summer and grape harvest season in September.
Top Tips
1. Book Villa Tugendhat months in advance. It is the finest modernist building in Central Europe.
2. Book Punkva Caves online. The cave boat trip sells out rapidly in summer.
3. Mikulov in September during the grape harvest is the finest time to visit South Moravia.
4. Moravian wine is the finest in the Czech Republic. The Palava grape is unique to this region.
5. Olomouc is the finest Czech city most visitors never see. Allow a full day.
6. The Lednice-Valtice landscape is enormous. Cycling between the two chateaux is outstanding.
Total Budget
2,000 to 4,200 CZK/day