Znojmo is a charming Moravian town famous for its wine production and beautifully preserved old buildings. There are interesting museums here, and the area of the Podyje National Park is nearby.
The beginnings of the town date back to the 11th century, when Brzetysław I founded his castle here. Already then, the first castle was erected on the hill, within which, in the 12th century, the Rotunda of St. Catherine. It is one of the most valuable monuments in Znojmo, and the interior of the church is decorated with Romanesque polychrome, one of the oldest in the Czech Republic. The buildings of the castle now house the South Moravian Museum.
Below the castle there is a very well-preserved old town with numerous town houses, a 15th century town hall tower, historic churches, including the Gothic church of St. Nicholas. A great attraction of Znojmo are the local underground, which are one of the largest underground labyrinths in Central Europe. Their sidewalks extend over several storeys and are 30 km in total. Both classic routes with a historical story and adventure routes, where visitors wade along flooded pavements or squeeze through narrow passages, are available for sightseeing.
Znojmo is surrounded by the Znojmo wine region, which includes, among others, famous Šobes vineyard. The former Louka monastery now houses one of the largest Czech wine cellars and a wine museum. Every year the city hosts an international wine festival, Znojemskie Winobranie Historyczne, during which you can, among others, taste the burčák drink made from grape must.
The city also offers many opportunities for active leisure. To the west of it is the Podyje National Park covering the rocky Bohemian Massif and the picturesque valley of the Dyja river that crosses it. Its canyon is 220 m high. There are walking and cycling paths in the park, and you can practice water sports on the water reservoir in Vranov nad Dyją.
