Drslavice can be explored through three distinct themes: the history of Pepčín Castle, cherished village traditions and natural habitats with rare species. This variety is what makes planning interesting: Pepčín offers a tangible historical reference point, traditions shape the cultural calendar, and the nature themes draw attention to water, forests and special habitats. Rather than treating everything as one tour, you can decide which focus should shape your trip.
Pepčín: a place with a clear timeline
Pepčín Castle was built from 1903 in the cadastral area of the municipality of Drslavice, as a summer residence in the Obora forest for Count JUDr. Václav Kounic. It was demolished in 1981; only the clearing in the forest remains at the former site. The building’s history and its appearance today are therefore quite different: Pepčín is best understood through its historical location and the clearing, not as a surviving castle. A newly built recreational area has been taking shape at the former site since 2018.
An event notice from 2024 described a New Year’s Eve gathering for the whole family at the former Pepčín site in the Obora forest as a longstanding tradition, and named Drslavice and other municipalities as joint organisers.
Traditions, chapel and events
The Chapel of Our Lady of Svatý Hostýn, Drslavice’s most significant cultural monument, stands in the village centre. Local traditions include the traditional Hody festivities and the Fašank carnival procession. A longstanding Easter tradition sees boys go around the village from Thursday to Saturday of Holy Week, rattling Hrkávky clappers—a clearly defined period within the church calendar.
Since 2015, Drslavské léto has been held in cooperation with local associations. The project supports cultural, social, sporting and charitable events; dates may vary. So if you would like to plan your visit around an event, check the specific announcement for your travel dates.
Nature, water and trails
A pond in the Obora forest is home to rare amphibian species. The Terasy Natural Monument is one of the last refuges for endangered thermophilous plant species on the right-bank terraces of the Olšava, as well as for insect species associated with them. The term “thermophilous” points to the plants’ particular habitat requirements and helps explain the ecological value of the natural monument.
Kovářův žleb–Obora is an extensive, continuous complex of ecologically valuable forest habitats: Carpathian and Pannonian oak-hornbeam forests, basiphilous thermophilous oak forests, and valley alder forests. The complex lies in an otherwise comparatively intensively farmed landscape. It is therefore not a single type of forest, but several interconnected habitats.
A proposed route to the Vrhové Steppe Reserve leads via the Terasy Natural Monument and past the retention basin and a group of ponds and pools along the Holomňa stream. The route is presented as a suggestion; check local conditions before setting out. Several cycling routes cross in Drslavice, though their exact alignments may change.
Viticulture is also part of the village’s history: Drslavice has a wine-growing tradition dating back to the 16th century. It adds another historical layer to the village traditions and shows that the village’s cultural heritage extends beyond individual buildings and events.
Plan your holiday apartment and stay
When looking for a holiday apartment in Drslavice, it helps to start with a simple decision: should your stay focus more on village culture and events, or on nature and cycling?
Discover more destinations: Velehrad, Traplice, Dolní Němčí, Slavkov, Ostrožská Lhota, Rudice, Vyškovec, Nivnice.
For the broader travel overview: Uherské Hradiště District.
