National parks Morava

The Czech Republic is home to 4 national parks: Krkonošský národní park, Národní park Šumava, Národní park České Švýcarsko, and the only Moravian park, Národní Park Podyjí, situated in the South Moravian Region, in the Znojmo District. It was declared on 1 July 1991. With an area of 6,259 hectares, it is the smallest national park in the country. The territory was designated from the most valuable part of the original Chráněná krajinná oblast Podyjí.

And there is truly much to see. The Dyje river creates a deep canyon with picturesque meanders and rock faces along the route between Vranov nad Dyjí and Znojmo. As the site is very difficult to access, it remains the most well-preserved and least disturbed river valley in the country. The southern side of the park is bordered by the state border, which connects to the Austrian Národní park Thayatal. In the eastern part of the park, visitors will find one of the most popular summer locations in South Moravia the Znojemská přehrada (Znojmo Reservoir), and in the east, the Vranovská přehrada (Vranov Reservoir) lies on the close border.

The fauna and flora in Národní park Podyjí are very diverse. Visitors may find up to 77 species of protected plants, such as mullein, iris, pasqueflower, cyclamen, and several species of orchids. There are also rare dry and warm heathlands and steppe meadows, created by long-term livestock grazing, which are a unique European feature. Since the national park consists of more than 80% forest, a significant number of various mushroom species can also be found here.

Among the animals found in the national park, the European otter, which has ideal climatic conditions here due to the damp environment, the European ground squirrel, the dice snake, the black stork, and the Eurasian eagle-owl are certainly worth mentioning. Visitors may also encounter rare butterfly species such as the clouded Apollo or the scarce swallowtail.

Nature conservation and the activities necessary for the maintenance of the park are ensured by the Správa Národního parku Podyjí, which is based in Znojmo. Visitors who wish to learn a great deal of interesting information may visit the centre in Čížov, where a permanent exhibition is located, as well as a preserved 350-metre-long section of the Iron Curtain, including a guard tower. At the visitor centre, one will discover, for example, that the national park is a holder of the Council of Europe Diploma for protected areas.

The fact that the Znojmo and Vranov regions are popular tourist destinations is evidenced by the number of tourists who visit annually. For history enthusiasts, the area features Znojmo Castle, Bítov Castle, or the majestic Vranov nad Dyjí Chateau, which are open from April to October. With the arrival of autumn, winemaking becomes dominant in Znojmo and its surroundings. Visitors may head to burčák (young wine) festivals or a traditional wine harvest festival. Or, one may sit down at any time of the year with a local winemaker in a wine cellar. Wines from this region are of high quality and regularly occupy top positions in international competitions.

If one wishes to see the magnificence of the deep Dyje valleys from above, it is recommended to climb one of the lookout towers. The vranovská vyhlídka Claryho kříž or the Hardeggská vyhlídka in Čížov are very popular. The views are truly breathtaking.

For enthusiastic cyclists, it is certainly no secret that the so-called Stezka železné opony (Iron Curtain Trail) leads through the territory of Národní park Podyjí. The European long-distance cycle route, winding from the Barents Sea to the shores of the Black Sea in Bulgaria, is nearly 10,000 kilometres long. In the territory of the Czech Republic, it winds from the West Bohemian town of Aš and leaves the territory at the confluence of the Morava and Dyje rivers near Břeclav.

Those who prefer urban tourism should certainly not miss a tour of Znojmo. In addition to being home to an urban heritage zone, the town is known for its traditional Znojemské okurky (Znojmo pickles) or successful sports clubs. Add to this a number of high-quality restaurants and cafes, and a pleasant day is guaranteed.

The range of accommodation in Národní park Podyjí is also quite diverse. In addition to Znojmo, pleasant overnight stays are gladly provided in, for example, the smaller village of Lukov. It is recommended to approach one of the long-term residents and ask for a personal recommendation for a route or a trip tip. Advice from locals is worth its weight in gold and will not be found in any official guidebook. We wish you a pleasant time.

Přírodní park Niva Dyje, as the name suggests, is a protected area situated between the main course of the Dyje river and its tributary, the Včelinek, bordered by the towns of Břeclav, Lednice, Podivín, and Ladná. At the same time, it forms the eastern boundary of the well-known Lednicko-Valtický areál, and the castle park in Lednice also lies within its territory. Among other things, it is part of the NATURA 2000 network and is protected under the Ramsar Convention on the protection of wetlands. The reason for the declaration of the nature park in 2002 was the protection of the floodplain forest ecosystem.

The park is situated at an altitude between 160 and 165 metres above sea level. From a geomorphological perspective, it is incorporated into the Dolnomoravský úval, a sub-unit of the Dyjsko-moravská niva. The entire park consists of river deposits, continuous layers of gravel-sand, flood loams, and sand dunes, known as "hrúdy". The area of the nature park is 1,300 ha. Many species of animals and plants live in symbiosis within this area.

Přírodní park Niva Dyje is a pleasant place for romantic walks. Cycling is also widely practised here. Active tourists as well as those less fit take advantage of the almost flat terrain and are able to cover several tens of kilometres in a day. From the park, it is just a stone's throw to significant sites of the Lednicko-Valtický areál. It is possible to choose from several circuits according to one's time and physical fitness.

A pleasant circuit with a length of approx. 27 km, which is also suitable for bicycle trailers, can be started right in Přírodní park Niva Dyje. Via a turn-off to Břeclav, one passes gradually around historical gems. First, the Apollonův chrám chateau by the Mlýnský rybník awaits, followed by the Chrám Tří grácií, which was built as a summer house for the nobility. Continuing further to the western bank of the Hlohovecký rybník, one reaches the Hraniční zámeček, originally a summer residence of the Lichtenštejn family. From there, passing around the northern shore of the pond, one arrives at the Rybniční zámeček.

Subsequently, via a larger circuit around the northern shore of the Mlýnský rybník, one arrives at Janův hrad, which is an artificial castle ruin built between 1801 and 1808. The castle is accessible to the public, and refreshments are available in its immediate vicinity. It is therefore an ideal stop for refreshments. It is only a stone's throw from there back to the starting point in Přírodní park Niva Dyje.

Due to the number of significant historical monuments and various natural beauties, thousands of tourists from both the Czech Republic and abroad head here annually. They are well prepared for them here in the Břeclav region. In addition to many wine cellars and restaurants, there are a number of cosy cottages and cabins, apartments, or guesthouses available. A great advantage is also private accommodation, where there is a high probability that local hosts will share their "secret" tips for trips with you. In any case, accommodation in the vicinity of Přírodní park Niva Dyje is a guarantee of quality services, Moravian hospitality, and warm-hearted people who will do everything to ensure your stay here is unforgettable.