In Znojmo District, river landscapes, winegrowing and historic landmarks together shape the character of a trip. This is especially vivid in Podyjí: the Dyje winds through a deep valley, past rocks, vineyards, flower-filled meadows and sunny orchards. The landscape features more than 20 viewpoints; Sealsfieldův kámen stands high above a bend in the river. Alongside sweeping river views, you’ll encounter wooded slopes and open stretches of countryside.
Podyjí: Nature and trails along the river
Podyjí National Park protects an exceptionally well-preserved river valley in a wooded setting. On the Austrian border, it connects with Thayatal National Park. Its location at the boundary of two biogeographical regions—the Hercynian and the Pannonian—also shapes the natural environment. Its habitats include oak-hornbeam forests, scree forests and heat-loving oak forests.
Marked hiking trails offer the chance to observe rare plants and animals. Hikes may also bring sightings of rare butterflies at the Fládnitzké Moor or bats near the ruins of Nový Hradek. The nature trails also include a climb to Vraní skála. The viewpoints and trails offer different perspectives: sometimes the focus is on the course of the Dyje, and sometimes on protected plant and animal life.
Wine trails and cycling routes
The Znojemská vinařská stezka links 55 winegrowing towns and villages over 189 kilometres. Stops along the way include the Malovaný sklep in Šatov and military history sites such as Bunkr Na Hrázi and bunker MJ–S 3 “Zahrada.” The wine trail thus brings together winegrowing and regional history, while offering discoveries that go beyond a single theme.
In Podyjí, the Šobes vineyard lies in a bend of the Dyje; seasonal wine tastings are offered there. Before your trip, check whether tastings are available during the season you’re visiting. The Hroznové kozy educational trail in Vrbovec offers a different perspective on wine traditions: it’s an easy circular route suitable for families that tells stories of wine traditions and local legends.
There’s also a specific connection between several places for a cycling trip: the Znojmo–Chvalovice cycle route links Znojmo with Nový Šaldorf, Vrbovec and Chvalovice. It offers a route towards the Austrian border away from a busy road. As route conditions can change, it’s best to check before setting off. While the Znojemská vinařská stezka links many winegrowing towns and villages, the cycle route leads to the places named above—two different ways to explore the area.
Castles, underground passages and industrial history
Bítov Castle stands on a narrow rocky promontory about 70 metres above the Želetavka. The tour includes a Neo-Gothic chapel with the Madonna of Bítov, dated to 1334, and an animal park, including the restored zoo associated with Baron Jiří Haas. The combination of its striking location, chapel and animal park makes the castle a place where landscapes and different chapters of history meet.
Atmospheric tours lead through medieval passageways, cellars and shelters beneath the historic centre of Znojmo. Depending on the route, highlights include a Jesuit aqueduct, large underground halls, ventilation shafts, and exhibitions on archaeology and winegrowing. Another route includes a medieval well, original passageways carved into the rock, and an exhibition on the history of the underground. Tours and access may change; check which routes are currently available before your visit.
The water mill in Slup offers another way to discover history: the site includes four working water wheels and a millrace. The exhibition traces the history of milling from prehistoric times to the present day. In Čížov, the Iron Curtain Memorial focuses on important periods and moments in 20th-century Czech history. Together, these places show different ways of engaging with the past—from a preserved industrial site to the historical context of a political borderland.
For a break by the water, the Vranov Reservoir is considered one of the top swimming spots in the Znojmo area; access to the water is gradual. Nearby, there are also opportunities for cycling, water sports, visits to cultural sites and nature excursions. Seasonal facilities and water conditions can change. This lets you choose where to stay based on the experiences that interest you most—whether river landscapes and hiking, wine traditions or history.
Discover more destinations: Jevisovice, Sumna, Krhovice, Znojmo, Kravsko, Chvalovice, Hodonice, Mackovice, Bítov, Bezkov, Běhařovice, Přeskače, Blížkovice, Božice, Borotice, Citonice, Dobšice U Znojma, Dolní Dubňany, Dyjákovice, Dyje, Horní Břečkov, Grešlové Mýto, Havraníky, Hevlín, Hluboké Mašůvky, Horní Dunajovice, Hostim, Hostěradice, Hrádek, Hrušovany Nad Jevišovkou, Jaroslavice, Jiřice U Miroslavi, Kuchařovice, Kyjovice, Lechovice, Lesná U Znojma, Lesonice, Litobratřice, Mašovice, Mikulovice, Miroslav, Moravský Krumlov, Nový Šaldorf-Sedlešovice, Oleksovice, Plaveč, Podmolí, Prosiměřice, Šafov, Šanov, Šatov, Strachotice, Suchohrdly, Tavíkovice, Těšetice, Tulešice, Únanov, Vémyslice, Višňové, Vítonice, Vratěnín, Vrbovec, Zálesí, Bantice, Blanné, Bohutice, Bojanovice, Boskovštejn, Břežany U Znojma, Ctidružice, Čermákovice, Černín, Damnice, Dobelice, Dobřínsko, Dolenice, Dyjákovičky, Džbánice, Hnanice, Horní Dubňany, Horní Kounice, Chvalatice, Jamolice, Starý Petřín, Jezeřany-Maršovice, Jiřice U Moravských Budějovic, Kadov, Korolupy, Křídlůvky, Lančov, Lubnice, Lukov, Medlice, Milíčovice, Miroslavské Knínice, Morašice, Našiměřice, Olbramkostel, Olbramovice, Slup, Onšov, Oslnovice, Pavlice, Plenkovice, Podhradí Nad Dyjí, Podmyče, Pravice, Prokopov, Rešice, Rozkoš, Rudlice, Rybníky, Stálky, Stošíkovice Na Louce, Suchohrdly U Miroslavi, Štítary, Tasovice Nad Dyjí, Trnové Pole, Trstěnice, Tvořihráz, Újezd, Valtrovice, Velký Karlov, Vevčice, Vracovice, Vranovská Ves, Výrovice, Zblovice, Žerotice, Žerůtky, Uhercice U Znojma, Dobronice, Hrabětice, Skalice, Vranov nad Dyjí.
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