Znojmo Czech Republic. Znojmo. Czech Republic. How to get to Znojmo from Prague

The settlement has a developed textile, shoe, ceramic and leather industry, and also produces canned food and sports equipment. Special attention is paid to gardening and winemaking. The symbol of the city is the Znojje cucumber, which has been cultivated since 1571, and the local Shobes vineyards are among the top 10 on the continent.

History of the development of Znojmo

In 1955, a border settlement was built on this site, which was the residence of the margraves. 90 years later there was a severe fire, after which the city stood in ruins until 1226. By order of Přemysl Otakar I, a fortified outpost was erected here.

In the 19th century, the city was included in Austria-Hungary. Small squares, narrow streets, zigzag alleys and original structures were built in it. Some of them have survived to this day, for example, the rotunda. After the end of the Battle of Wagram in 1809, a truce was concluded in Znojmo between Archduke Charles and Napoleon I.

Weather in the city

The settlement has a mild, moderately warm climate with an average air temperature of +10 °C. There is a significant amount of precipitation throughout the year here, the norm is 583 mm. The driest month is January (28 mm), and most often it rains in June (79 mm).

The maximum air temperature in Znojmo is observed in July and is +19 °C. In February, the mercury drops to -2 °C. This is the coldest weather of the year.

Attractions in Znojmo, Czech Republic

The medieval buildings of the city are of greatest interest to tourists. The most famous of them are:

The smallest national park in Europe is located in Znojmo. This is a unique reserve where nature has been preserved almost in its original form. On its territory there are luxurious palaces and majestic castles.

Where to stay in the city?

In Znojmo there are luxury guesthouses, budget hostels and apartments. The price usually includes breakfast, internet, parking and transfer. The rooms are equipped with a bathroom, TV, minibar and tea making facilities.

For an additional fee, guests can use the fitness center, conference room, swimming pool, sauna and massage room. The hotels provide concierge, laundry and babysitting services. Many hotels have a solarium, wine bar, swimming pool, bicycle rental and tour desk.

The most popular establishments are:

PREMIUM Wellness&Wine Hotel 4*;
Penzion Austis 3*;
Boutique Hotel Katerina 4*;
Vinařské apartmany 3*;
Hotel Morava 3*.

Restaurants in Znojmo

If you get hungry and want a snack, visit such popular catering establishments as:

Tusto – here you can try Mediterranean and Italian dishes;
Illegal bar – steakhouse serving grill and local beer;
Kavárna U Mlsného Kocoura is a restaurant that serves;
Cappuccino – a cafe where visitors are offered a variety of desserts, drinks and fast food;
VietHouse is an Asian restaurant that specializes in sushi.

Holidays

Every year historical festivals and various events are held in Znojmo, the most famous of which are:

Vintage Festival– about 80 thousand people from all over the world take part in it. Musicians and artists are invited to the celebration, knightly tournaments, performances and fairs are held everywhere.
Music Festival– it was first held in 2005. The event focuses on different composers each time. The theme and title are associated with this choice.

Shopping

Znojmo is a real paradise for shopaholics. There are several shopping centers on its territory, for example, Dyje Department Store or Excalibur City. Here you can buy branded items and shoes. While parents are shopping, their children can play in the entertainment centers.

In the vicinity of Znojmo there is one of the most famous outlets in the Czech Republic, it is called Freeport. It sells real branded items at affordable prices. Here you will find the following brands: Guess, Camel Active, Adidas, etc.

Transport

There is a tourist train running around Znojmo, which stops near all the popular ones. Also, for the convenience of citizens and tourists, modern bicycle trails have been equipped here.

From Znojmo you can get there by car along highways No. E65, 38 and 408, the distance is about 200 km. From the capital to the village there are buses No. 2, 67, 108, direction RegioJet and FIixBus. Travel time takes about 3 hours.

There is a small but very beautiful ancient medieval Czech town of Znojmo, the dominant feature of which is Czech castle Znojmo in Baroque style.

History of Znojmo Castle

Founding of the city of Znojmo

The place where the modern city and Znojmo Castle people have loved it since ancient times - excavations have revealed here the remains of a Bronze Age settlement dating back to the 4th millennium BC. And in the second half of the 11th century, the Moravian princes Conrad I and his son Litholt built the first wooden-clay castle here to protect the southern borders of the Kingdom of Moravia from warlike neighbors - the Hungarians and Austrians. Until the end of the 12th century, this Czech castle was in the possession of the Moravian branch of the Přemyslid family; its importance increased due to its strategically important location - near the trade route connecting Moravia with Austria.

From wooden town to gothic castle

In the first half of the 12th century, Znojmo Castle was heavily damaged during the conflict with the Czech Republic. Later in the same century, it was restored by the Moravian burgrave Konrad Otto, who fortified the castle walls and made Znojmo his residence. Conrad Otto erected a new well-fortified stone castle in the Gothic style on the site of the old one. The main feature of Znojmo Castle of those times was a powerful defensive tower of an unusual octagonal shape, which later received the name Razboinichaya, which unfortunately collapsed in 1892 (at the same time, the castle gatekeeper and his entire family tragically died under the ruins) and has not survived to our times (but to Today, the rotunda of the Virgin Mary and St. Catherine, built in the 11th century, with unique frescoes from the same time has been preserved - in the photo on the right).

After the collapse of the Duchy of Znojmo at the beginning of the 13th century, this Czech castle finally became the property of the Czech kings. In 1222, King Přemysl Otakar I (a monument in the courtyard of Znojmo Castle reminds of him - pictured on the left) founded next to Znojmo Castle a city that later became one of the favorite places for the kings of the Czech Republic to conduct diplomatic negotiations with their Austrian neighbors. So, in 1335, the King of the Czech Republic, Jan of Luxembourg, stayed here with his court, marrying his daughter to the Austrian Duke Otto.

XV - XX centuries, from the Hussite wars to the historical museum

Built more than 200 years ago, the powerful fortifications of Znojmo Castle showed themselves in all their glory in 1404, when the combined forces of the Hungarians and Austrians tried several times to take the fortress by storm, but the castle garrison under the command of John of Lamberk repelled all enemy attacks with honor. During the difficult period of the Hussite wars, this castle of the Czech Republic remained a reliable stronghold for the king, and subsequently the emperor Azikmund of Luxembourg, who later died here in 1437. And in 1529-1530, Queen Maria, the widow of Ludwik of Jagiellon, visited here several times.

From the middle of the 16th century, the importance of the Znojma castle began to gradually fade away, and its once mighty walls gradually collapsed. The fire of 1630 further intensified the destruction, and by the end of the 17th century this glorious Czech castle was already in ruins. In 1709, the emperor granted these possessions to the count family of Deblin, who founded a brewery in the backyard, removed most of the old buildings and in their place, from 1711 to 1721, built a new luxurious castle in the Baroque style with a beautiful view of the Dyji River valley from its windows But in 1784, the last of the Deblin counts died without leaving heirs, and Znojmo Castle became the property of the Austrian emperors.

This caused another period of decline - the castle building housed first barracks and then a military hospital. Since 1922, Znojmo Castle became the property of the city, and the Museum of the South Moravian Region moved into its walls, which is currently one of the largest museums in Moravia, its collections number more than 300,000 exhibits illustrating the history, culture and nature of the region from ancient times to the present day.

What to see in the castle and town of Znojmo

The city of Znojmo itself is no less interesting than the Znojmo castle located in it. By the way, it should be fair to note that there are two castles in Znojmo, in addition to the Znojmo castle or castle described in this article, there is also the so-called Loutsk castle - created by the Leibenberg family in the 19th century from a former monastery, which you can admire when visiting the historical center of Znojmo (pictured on right).

In Znojmo Castle itself, you can visit the museum and rotunda of St. Katarzyna described above and simply stroll around and along the baroque castle courtyard (pictured below - left). In the historical center of Znojmo there are a lot of interesting buildings, including the monumental Church of St. Nicholas (pictured below in the middle), the Gothic tower of the town hall and the city theater in the Empire style.

In addition, Znojmo is the center of South Bohemian winemaking; every summer a cheerful Grape Festival is held here (photo below right). And under the entire city center there are unique dungeons, the total length of which exceeds 30 km, and there are four-level catacombs. A visit to this mysterious monument of medieval construction will not leave either adults or children indifferent.

Practical information for solo travelers

How to get to Znojmo from Brno by car

To get to Znojmo Castle by car, we leave Brno south along the highway R52(E461) in the direction of Vienna, Mikulov, Znojmo ( Wien, Mikulov, Znojmo ), after 20 kilometers we turn onto the highway 53 in the direction Znojmo , where we arrive after 37 kilometers, we head towards the historical center, bearing in mind that there is a cost to enter 20 CZK, and parking is often difficult to find. Or we park on Freedom Square ( namesti Svobody ), located nearby, and then we walk along the old center of Znojmo and explore the castle.

How to get to Znojmo by public transport

The bus service between Brno and Znojmo is very convenient and regular - every hour from 7.30 , a direct bus leaves from the UAN Zvonarka bus station, reaching Znojmo in 1 hour 12 minutes. It’s also easy to get there by bus in the opposite direction - buses depart from the central bus station (located, by the way, near all the main attractions of this Czech city) also every hour, starting from 8.13 .

A very pleasant southern town. A beautiful old town and an excellent panorama near the Church of St. Nicholas.

The city of Znojmo, in German Znaim, in the Czech Republic stands on the Dyje River, just eight kilometers from the border with Austria. Tourists who stay in Znojmo hotels can go on excursions to Austria. There are many gardens and wineries in the vicinity of the city. During the annual grape harvest, thousands of tourists flock to Znojmo.

The Gothic city of Přemyslid was founded on the banks of the Dyje in the middle of the 11th century. Since then, the Rotunda of St. Catherine (Rotunda sv. Kateřiny) has been preserved to this day. Its interior is decorated with frescoes from the period 1134 with images of representatives of the Premyslid family and biblical scenes. The main part of this castle was destroyed and restored in the 18th century. A baroque castle was built on the old foundation, then it was rebuilt in the classical style, and then a hospital was placed in it. Since 1910, this building has housed the South Moravian Museum (Jihomoravské muzeum).

Our walk around Znojmo

Attractions Znojmo

Town Hall Tower

Also, since the Middle Ages, the town hall observation tower (Znojemská radniční věž), 75 m high (ca. 1446), has stood in the city. This building survived a fire in the 13th century and was restored in the late Gothic style. In the 16th century, the roof of the old tower was replaced with copper sheets, and the supporting beams have served the building for more than 500 years. Once upon a time, the city guard was on duty on this tower. He had to maintain order in Znojmo, and in order not to fall asleep, he had to announce the exact time every hour. This service was eventually transformed into a fire service; guards continued to serve it until 1924.

Znojmo Dungeons

Another of the city's attractions is the Znojem Dungeons (Znojemské podzemí). In ancient times they housed wine storage facilities. This is an underground system of passages with a total length of more than 30 km. The depth of the dungeons in some places is equivalent to 4 floors. In these deep labyrinths, a tourist site was recently opened with a reconstructed alchemist’s laboratory and a real dungeon.

Church of St. Nicholas

The main temple of the city is the Church of St. Nicholas (Kostel sv. Mikuláše), built in 1338. This is a large three-nave cathedral in the Gothic style. On the forged lattice of his altar you can see images of the life of the Mother of God. Next to the temple there is a two-tier chapel-tomb of Emperor Sigismund with an openwork vaulted ceiling.

Chapel of St. Wenceslas

The three-story Chapel of St. Wenceslas (Kaple svatého Václava) was built in the Gothic style. You can go up to its observation deck, which offers a panoramic view of the city and a view of the Dyie River valley.

Loutsky Monastery

There are several other religious monuments in the city. Among them are the Loutsky Monastery (premonstrátský klášter v Louce), which was destroyed during the Hussite Wars, the Dominican (Dominikánský klášter) and the Capuchin monasteries (Kapucínský klášter).

Nature lovers will be interested in the Podyjí National Park. There are many fascinating objects in it: ancient castles, ruined mills, huge bizarre boulders. There are walking and cycling routes throughout its territory. One of the most beautiful castles in the park is. In it, in 1799, a ceramics factory was founded, where Vranov porcelain was produced. Products of ancient masters are now exhibited in the halls of the castle. The most popular recreation area in the park is (Vranovská přehrada), with a total length of 30 km.

Wenceslas Square is a small triangular city square in Znojmo, located at the intersection of Vesela and Przemyslovska streets. The square is surrounded by historic houses. In the middle there is a fountain with a sculpture of St. Wenceslas, who was a Czech prince from the Premyslid family, revered as a saint by Catholics and Orthodox Christians. There are benches for rest and bicycle racks around the fountain.

The square was reconstructed in 2009. If you walk along the street. Przemyslovskaya towards the Dyja River valley, you can find yourself at the entrance to the Hranice Forest Park, as well as at the South Moravian Museum in the Minorite Monastery, where exhibitions about weapons, nature and archeology of the city of Znojma and its surroundings are presented.

Freedom Square

Freedom Square is a small town square in Znojmo, located on the street of the same name. Here is the Temple of St. Elizabeth, which used to be part of a large monastery. The church was reconstructed in Baroque style.

On the square you can see the Prague or Upper Gate, which in the Middle Ages was part of the Fortress Wall. After the destruction of the stone fortification, the gate was dismantled into a residential building, where it represents an arched passage.

In order to reconstruct the square and give it a unified concept, a competition was announced among architects. Thus, it is expected to be updated in the future. Not far from the square is the City Park, which borders the medieval and modern city.

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City Park

The city park in Znojmo is located on the border between the medieval and modern city, where Pontassievskaya Street adjoins Kamensky Square. When the city began to grow and go beyond the Fortress Wall, a decision was gradually made to destroy individual parts of the wall.

The experience of military attacks on the city showed that the stone fortification was unable to protect the inhabitants, so there was no point in preserving the wall. In 1880-1884, when the third “belt” of the fortification was demolished, Pontassievskaya Street was formed, near which the central city park arose. This is a great place to relax and walk - an oasis in the center of a bustling city.

Jubilee Park was founded in the city of Znojmo in the period between the two world wars. The year 1928 became a jubilee year for the Czechoslovak Republic; the state celebrated its first ten-year anniversary. Thanks to this memorable date, the city park got its name. The park became a symbol of the new Czech Znojmo; in 1920, for the first time in modern history, the city installed a mayor of Czech nationality, rather than German.

The park was built under the direction of the capital's landscape architect Joseph Kumpan. The park has a fountain, sundial, children's pool, gazebos, benches and long colorful flower beds. To this day, Jubilee Park is a favorite vacation spot for city residents.

Victory Monument

The Victory Monument is a military monument reminiscent of the end of World War II, erected on Marianska Square in the city of Znojmo. The monument is a sculpture of a Russian soldier with a machine gun in his hands, mounted on a pedestal in the form of a column. Marian Square is the main transport hub; it was built at the end of the 19th century, modeled on the roundabouts that already existed at that time in Paris and Vienna. There used to be a chapel of the Virgin Mary in the middle of the square, which was demolished by the communist authorities in 1952. Instead of the shrine, a Victory Monument was erected.

City Theater

The City Theater is located on Republic Square in Znojmo, near the Freedom House. The history of the theater began with the production of plays. Its oldest documents for payment of bills date from 1548. Then the theater played in a small room and on the streets of the city, using various sound and pyrotechnic effects. In 1892, the city council decided to build a new theater building on Salisova Square (now Republic Square).

The design of the Viennese architect Alexander Graf was chosen for construction. In September, the doors of the theater opened with the premiere of the play. The interior was decorated in a neo-baroque style with a variety of white, red and gold colors. The auditorium seats 278 and has a balcony. In 1945, the building was partially destroyed. In the post-war period it was reconstructed.

Crocoland

Crocoland is a large terrarium with crocodiles, with an area of about 250 square meters, located in the three-star hotel complex Dukla on Hollandska Street in the city of Znojmo. Here you can see ten live Nile crocodiles up to 2 meters long and weighing 75-90 kilograms.

A visit to Crocoland is also possible for those who do not live in a hotel. Every Wednesday at 10 am there is a feeding of crocodiles, which is quite an interesting spectacle, accompanied by a short story about the life of crocodiles. The terrarium is open daily: on weekdays from 10:00 to 17:00, on weekends from 13:00 to 17:00. Paid entrance.

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Old Town Hall

The town hall building is located on Obrokova Street in Znojmo. The tower was built in the Gothic style in 1445, making it one of the important landmarks in the Czech Republic. The tower has a central pyramid, decorated with eight smaller domed towers. Previously, the city guard served here.

In the 18th century, the town hall survived a severe fire, but was restored: the roof was covered with copper sheets, but the load-bearing beams were preserved and have been serving for half a millennium. Currently the tower is open to tourists. It is equipped with an observation deck, which offers a beautiful bird's eye view of the city.

The most popular attractions in Znojmo with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Znojmo on our website.

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The town of Znojmo is happily located in the Dyje River valley, where a mild, comfortable climate reigns all year round and the local vineyards rival those of the Rhine and Rhone valleys. Such a pleasant fact, which gives tourists special pleasure, is complemented by a huge number of beautiful Gothic cathedrals, castles and historical festivals held here. If there are those brave ones who find such an abundance of attractions not enough, the border with Austria is only 8 km away, and the distance to its capital will be no more than 90 km.

History paragraph

The first mention of the city of Znojmo dates back to 1055, and already in 1226, a powerful fortress was erected on the Dyje River by the Czech king Přemysl the First Otokar, which served as a serious defensive structure until the mid-13th century.

Znojmo is located close (only eight kilometers) from Austria, which makes it especially attractive for tourists wishing to visit the neighboring country. By the way, during the Austro-Hungarian Empire the city was called Znaim in the German manner.

How to get there

You can get there from Prague by car along the E65 highway, about three hours and 200 km on the road.

Search for flights to Brno (closest airport to Znojmo)

Wine from Znojmo

Most tourists associate the Czech Republic primarily with beer, which is largely true. And few people know, and even more so few have tried Czech wines from South Moravia. And in vain, since thanks to the mild climate there are many decent vineyards here, and the Shobes vineyard is one of the ten best in Europe.

Anyone who visits here for the grape harvest festival will be lucky. Znojmo is filled with artists and musicians, various festive events are held everywhere - knightly tournaments, fairs, performances.

Entertainment and attractions in Znojmo

The architectural dominant of the city is the Church of St. Nicholas, which was built in 1348 under Emperor Charles the Fourth. Not far from the church there is a three-story chapel of St. Wenceslas, made in the late Gothic style. On its top floor there is an observation deck where you can go up and enjoy the view.

Continuing the Gothic theme, of which there is a lot in Znojmo, it is worth going to the Old Town Hall tower, its height is about 80 meters.

In the Middle Ages, there was a guard at the top of the tower who kept order in the city and announced the time every hour.

Near the city walls there is an ensemble of several houses, also built in the Gothic style - this is the Kaplanka guesthouse. The boarding house still performs its functions today, offering comfortable and inexpensive accommodation.

Rotunda of St. Catherine

One of the main attractions of Znojmo is the rotunda of St. Catherine, preserved from the ancient Přemyslid fortress. Inside the rotunda there are unique frescoes from 1134 depicting biblical scenes and portraits of representatives of the glorious Přemyslid family. The famous Znojmo dungeons are also located here - an extensive network of passages, passages and various underground structures with a total area of approximately 30 kilometers. In some places the depth of the dungeons is four floors.

Other attractions

In the building, built on the site of an old fortress since 1910, you can visit the South Moravian Museum and get acquainted with the culture and history of this glorious region.

In addition to the Church of St. Nicholas and the Chapel of St. Wenceslas listed above, other religious buildings have been preserved in the city. For example, the churches of the Holy Cross and St. Hippolyta, Church of St. John the Baptist and the Church of St. Mikhail. Znojmo is also home to one of the largest monastic complexes in Europe - the Loutsky Monastery. It was once one of the main centers of the Znojmo land, but during the Hussite Wars the monastery was destroyed. Nowadays you can see an art gallery within its walls. In addition to the Loutsky Monastery, there are also Capuchin and Dominican monasteries in the city.

Podyje National Park

Many cities in the Czech Republic very organically combine nature and man-made attractions, and Znojmo is no exception. Near the city there is the Podyje National Park, to which the expression “small but brave” fits perfectly. The fact is that Podyje is the smallest national park in Central Europe. But the nature here has been preserved almost in its original form, and the majestic ancient castles and luxurious palaces make this reserve truly unique. The park has many hiking and biking trails.

Where to stay: in energetic and business-like Ostrava, Olomouc, rich in attractions and entertainment, or in the cozy town of Brno. For those who suffer from joint pain or other diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the Darkov resort is ideal. To treat digestive diseases and diabetes, it is best to stay at the Luhačovice resort.
What to see: walking around the streets and seeing a crazy number of sights in the beer capital of the world