Znojmo - nature and wine

History of the town

The early settlement of this area is certainly the result of a trade route that passed through the ford across the river Dyje. In the times of the Great Moravian Empire, there was already a fortified settlement above the river ford, which was one of the largest in Great Moravia. Around 1037, however, the guard role of the ford was replaced by a castle built by Břetislav I., which also included the rotunda of the Virgin Mary.

In 1055, the Přemyslid principality was founded in Znojmo, where the Moravian branch of the Přemyslid princes ruled, and in 1190 Prince Konrád II founded it. Ota Premonstratensian monastery in Louka. In 1226, Přemysl Otakar II left. enclose the villages in the castle grounds and elevate them to a royal city. Znojmo later expanded and prospered economically, in addition to which it was granted a number of privileges.

The advantageous and strategic location above the river Dyje also brought Znojmo the dark side, specifically in the form of looting by enemy troops. In 1663 it was threatened by the Turks, in 1805 Russian and French troops passed through here before the Battle of Austerlitz, and in 1908 it took place near Znojmo between French and Russian troops.

Znojmo rather avoided industrial development and thus continued to maintain its agricultural character. However, the city continued to develop, which was also helped by the construction of a railway that connected Znojmo with Vienna, Brno and Prague.

Sights and interesting places

The biggest attraction in Znojmo is the original castle, which was rebuilt into a Baroque chateau between 1710 and 1721. At present, it is used as a South Moravian museum and in its area we can also find the rotunda of St. Catherine, a monument from the 12th century, in which valuable Romanesque murals from 1134 have been preserved, depicting the ruling Přemyslid princes and kings, portraits of Moravian princes and the Přemyslid legend.

The local city walls are among the best preserved city fortifications. They include, for example, the Wolf Tower or the Upper Gate. The symbol of the city is another important landmark of Znojmo, the town hall tower, from whose gallery you can see all the way to the Austrian Alps.

An important place is also the Znojmo underground, which was built on four floors and includes about 30 km of corridors. It is one of the largest mazes in Central Europe.

A place that cannot be overlooked during his wanderings through the Znojmo region is the Loucký Monastery, which now houses a picture gallery and a museum of cooperage and viticulture.

In the city center, which is now a city monument reserve, there are many Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque burgher houses.

Author: Andrea Štyndlová