The sun warms the white limestone cliffs of the Pálava hills where vineyards cover every slope. The South Moravian region is the wine heart of the country where the roads are lined with small wine cellars and white chapels. The landscape is flat and fertile but rises suddenly into rocky ridges overlooking massive reservoirs. Grand estates like Lednice and Valtice feature massive parks filled with exotic trees and fake ruins. You can spot the white tower of the Minaret peeking above the forest canopy in the Lednice gardens. The rows of vines stretch as far as the eye can see under the clear blue southern sky.
Deep underground the Moravian Karst holds thousands of caves and the massive Macocha abyss. You can take a boat trip on a subterranean river or walk through chambers filled with white crystal formations. The border with Austria is dotted with old watchtowers and quiet river paths. Large sunny squares in local towns are perfect for tasting the new vintage of white wine. Hike to the ruins of the Děvičky castle to see the entire valley and the glittering water of the lakes below. The scent of ripe grapes and dry grass follows you along the winding hillside trails.
This region is all about the good life and the warmth of the earth. You can explore the labyrinth of wine cellars in Petrov or cycle through the flat floodplains of the Dyje River. The mix of underground wonders and sunny hillside vineyards makes for a diverse journey. It is a place where the history of the land is bottled in every glass of local wine. Stop at the Znojmo town walls to see the sunset over the deep river canyon. The hospitality of the local wine makers makes every small village stop feel like a visit to a friend’s home.
South Moravian (region) highlights
- Lednice Chateau: This romantic palace is surrounded by one of the largest landscape parks in the world with many hidden ruins. It is the highlight of any South Moravia wine road trip and features a massive palm greenhouse.
- Pálava Hills: These white limestone cliffs rise suddenly from the flat plains and are covered in thousands of grape vines. The Pálava hills scenic route offers great views of the large reservoirs and the distant Austrian border.
- Mikulov Castle: Sitting on a rocky hill in the center of a historic wine town, this castle dominates the southern horizon. The drive through the town's narrow streets is full of wine cellars and old stone monuments.
- Moravian Karst: Visit the Macocha Abyss and take a boat trip on a subterranean river inside the dark limestone caves. This area is a hidden underground world with thousands of stalactites and huge cold chambers.
- Valtice Wine Salon: Located in the cellars of a grand chateau, this is the place to taste the hundred best wines of the country. The town is part of the Lednice Valtice area and offers very elegant and sunny driving.
- Znojmo River Canyon: See the deep valley of the Dyje river from the top of the ancient town walls and the rotunda of Saint Catherine. The surrounding Podyjí National Park offers rugged nature and very quiet forest roads.
- Šobes Vineyard: One of the oldest and most famous vineyards in the land is located on a sunny slope inside a river loop. You can reach it via a scenic trail that offers views of the wild river and the green hills.
- Petrov Wine Cellars: These historic blue and white painted cellars are built into the hillside and look like a hobbit village. It is a unique spot to stop and see the traditional folk architecture of the Moravian wine makers.
- Věstonice Venus: Visit the museum in the village where the world's oldest ceramic statuette was discovered by archaeologists. The area is surrounded by water and vineyards making it a very beautiful stop for any traveler.
- Slavkov Battlefield: Known as Austerlitz, this is the site where Napoleon won his most famous battle against two emperors. A grand peace monument sits on a hill overlooking the rolling fields and the quiet country roads.
The local Four
History of South Moravian (region)
The hills of the South Moravian region have been the home of vineyards since the Roman legions first planted grapes on the slopes of Pálava nearly two thousand years ago. This warm and fertile land is the wine cellar of the nation where hundreds of family owned vineyards and historic cellars are built directly into the limestone hills. The traditions of the vine are woven into every local festival and every glass of wine served under the shade of the old village walnuts.
Dominating the southern skyline are the white limestone cliffs of the Pálava hills where the world's oldest ceramic statuette was discovered in the ashes of an ancient hunter's camp. This landscape has been a crossroads for human migration for tens of thousands of years from mammoth hunters to the knights of the Great Moravian Empire. Driving along the reservoirs at the foot of these hills offers a spectacular view of the ancient ruins and the neat rows of vines that stretch to the horizon.
In the eastern part of the region the grand Lednice Valtice area represents the pinnacle of European landscape design where noble families created a massive garden filled with minarets and temple ruins. It is a land of light and warmth where the flat plains of the Dyje river meet the rolling hills of the wine country. A road trip through South Moravia is a journey of the senses where history is tasted in the wine and seen in the sunset over the white cliffs.