Where to go on a trip Vysočina

Are visitors looking for a place where adventure, entertainment, and knowledge combine? Zoologická zahrada Jihlava will captivate visitors with its atmosphere, diverse palette of animal species, and original concept of exhibits. It is open year-round and ranks among the most popular family destinations in the Vysočina region. Visitors will find it just a few minutes' walk from the center of Jihlava, in the picturesque valley of the Jihlávka River. It specializes in the breeding of small clawed monkeys, reptiles, and felines, but much more awaits visitors here. Over 250 animal species and dozens of thematic pavilions and enclosures that transport visitors across continents.

Exhibits That Draw Visitors into Nature

Zoo Jihlava guides visitors through various corners of the world. In the African Savanna exhibit, visitors will find themselves on the hot continent. They will see giraffes, antelopes, zebras, meerkats, and other inhabitants of the grassy savanna and the Kalahari Desert. The Night Exhibit, on the contrast, will surprise visitors with an unusual experience. Thanks to a reversed day and night cycle, visitors can observe even nocturnal animals during the time of their activity.

In the Asian Pavilion, an environment reminiscent of a jungle and a decaying hut awaits visitors. Visitors will see gibbons, mysterious babirusas, and lesser-known species of Asian mammals. Madagascar is represented here by cute lemurs, Australia offers a contact farm with typical inhabitants, and the Tropical Pavilion, Cat House, and Valley of Bees bring further unforgettable moments.

From the History of the Zoo and Curiosities

The zoo in Jihlava originated modestly. Originally it was just a small animal corner in the garden of a pioneer house. The first inhabitants were fox cubs Ferda and Lojza, raccoons Brunďa and Bzunďa, or goats Faust and Markéta. In 1957, the animal corner moved to the current complex in the valley of the Jihlávka River. Acquiring animals often had an unusual course—for instance, lions got here in exchange for a debt payment from a circus, a bear arrived straight from the film studios in Barrandov. Zoo Jihlava obtained the official status of a zoological garden only in 1982.

Useful Visitor Information

Before setting out on the journey, an overview of practical information has been prepared for visitors to help plan a relaxed day. The entire complex is conceived to be a great choice for families with children, couples, seniors, and school trips. The visit itself is undemanding, and the recommended duration to spend here ranges between two to four hours, depending on the visitor's own pace and interest in individual exhibits. Regarding wheelchair accessibility, the complex is located in a natural and slightly rugged terrain, yet it is well-adapted for movement with strollers and for persons with reduced mobility, for whom wheelchair-accessible paths and corresponding toilets are available. Please also bear in mind that for the safety of the animals bred, entry with dogs and other pets is not permitted into the complex.

Programs, Events, and Seasonal Activities

Zoo Jihlava is involved in a number of international conservation projects and actively supports nature protection. Visitors can contribute by purchasing selected souvenirs or by participating in charitable events. Throughout the year, guided tours, educational programs for schools, and various accompanying events take place, especially in the summer months and on weekends.

Location, Accessibility, and Services

The zoo is located in the center of the regional capital Jihlava and is easily accessible by car and public transport. Parking is possible in the vicinity of the zoo and tends to be paid. Directly in the complex and its vicinity, refreshment options, cafes, and souvenir shops are available. Modern toilets, relaxation zones, and playgrounds are available to visitors

Near the picturesque village of Nedvědice stands the beautiful Gothic hrad Pernštejn. Thanks to its specific architectural elements, rich history, and interesting surroundings, it has become the setting for many Czech fairy tales and films. It is located in the Jihomoravský kraj in the Brno-venkov district. The area is well-known not only because of Pernštejn, but it is also popular with tourists who head here every year in large numbers to discover the lesser-known corners of the Vysočina region.

The first mentions of Pernštejn date back to the end of the 13th century, when the castle was merely a smaller structure with a palace and the Barborka tower. Over time, as the power and financial means of the lords of Pernštejn increased, the castle was rebuilt into a representative political and administrative centre. In the 15th century, the residence was expanded with additional residential buildings, and an outer defensive wall was erected around it. A new representative room was then created in the courtyard, which was the largest room in the castle, the so-called Rytířský sál.

Subsequent years at Pernštejn were marked by the expansion of the fortifications with effective towers, the bridging of the entrance to the ground floor, and the addition of a library and several other living quarters. At the beginning of the 18th century, stucco reliefs by G. A. Corbellini complemented the original decoration of the Rytířský sál. Hrad Pernštejn thus gradually transformed from a medieval castle into a Moravian provincial fortress. You may have also encountered the term "marble" castle. It received this name thanks to Nedvědice marble, which was used in large quantities during its construction.

Hrad Pernštejn likely received its official name from the German term Bärenstein, which translates to "bear stone". Legend has it that in ancient times, when the castle did not yet have a name, a charcoal burner lived in its vicinity. One day, he found a bear den in the forest with abandoned cubs inside. He brought them home for his son to play with and subsequently to the castle, where he gifted them to the castle lord. When the mother bear returned to the den and did not find her young, she followed the tracks, which led her to the charcoal burner's house. There, in a rage, she took the young boy and carried him into the forest. The charcoal burner could only regret his actions thereafter.

Another legend is associated with a nearby yew tree, which you will find close to the forest stone path leading to hrad Pernštejn. Long ago, when a weary pilgrim was returning home from a pilgrimage, he was intrigued by the lively activity and numerous workers on the massive rocky hill. He learned that they planned to build a castle there. At the same time, however, he did not believe it was possible to build another stone structure on the rock. He therefore stuck his yew staff into the ground and declared that if it took root, the castle would be successfully built. Before long, the first buds appeared on the staff, and at the same time, the first vertical walls of Pernštejn were constructed. Over time, a beautiful tree grew from the staff, firmly linked by fate to Pernštejn. When a violent storm destroyed part of the crown of the massive yew tree one day, the vault in the castle hall also subsided. It is said that when this massive tree dies, hrad Pernštejn will also cease to exist.

Hrad Pernštejn faced several attacks over the centuries. Probably the greatest attack occurred in 1645, when the castle was besieged by the Swedes. During the shelling, the top floor and the tower above the third castle gate were destroyed and were never rebuilt. Pernštejn was also damaged on 15 April 2005. On that day, a fire broke out in the depository. Despite the very rapid mobilisation of the local volunteer brigade and professional firefighters from nearby Bystřice nad Pernštejnem, it was very difficult to reach the third courtyard with heavy equipment. However, the fire was brought under control. A great piece of luck was the fact that the most valuable items were not in the depository but were distributed along the tour routes. Therefore, they were not affected by the fire.

Hrad Pernštejn offers you up to eight tour circuits. You may choose the basic circuit "From the Gothic to the 20th Century", which will provide you with an overall overview of the castle's development. A shorter circuit will offer you the most interesting parts of the basic circuit. It is, however, less time-consuming and suitable even for smaller children who cannot maintain their attention for too long. You may also set out on a tour of the Vrchnostenská zahrada. This is the newest circuit, which was opened after an extensive reconstruction in 2021. In the nearby gardens, you will see what they looked like at the beginning of the 19th century.

Hrad Pernštejn is also very popular among filmmakers. Fairy tales such as Sedmero krkavců, Pták Ohnivák, or Jak se budí princezny were filmed here. You can also see the castle premises in the well-known Italian series Princess Fantaghiro. For the inhabitants of Nedvědice, it is no longer an extraordinary event when they meet a popular actor or actress in their village. They have become accustomed to the fact that Pernštejn simply attracts attention.

If you have not yet visited hrad Pernštejn, or if none of your school trips brought you here during your studies, you should certainly rectify this as soon as possible. Pernštejn is one of the most beautiful castles in all of Moravia. In its surroundings, you can also find several other historical buildings that were not as fortunate and gradually turned into ruins. For example, there is the ruin of hrad Zubštejn, which is set in the forest near the nearby village of Pivonice, belonging to Bystřice nad Pernštejnem.

The selection of accommodation near hrad Pernštejn is also quite diverse. Guesthouses are on offer, suitable, for example, for school trips as well as for the stay of larger groups. Or you may stay in a romantic cottage and explore the surroundings of Nedvědice far and wide. Even a small village can often surprise you.

The Land of Stonecutters and Rock Giants

Geopark Vysočina, which stretches across the area of Javořická vrchovina in the Kraj Vysočina region, is one of the national geoparks of the Czech Republic. This territory with an area of approximately 180 km² is located north and west of the town of Telč and extends up to the highest point of Českomoravská vrchovina, the peak of Javořice (837 m a. s. l.). The geopark was proclaimed with the aim of presenting the unique geological heritage of the region, which is inextricably linked with a rich stonecutting tradition.

The rocks of the geopark tell a story about the massive Hercynian orogeny from 340 million years ago (Carboniferous), when extensive mountain ranges were formed here. Today's landscape is formed primarily by a deep-seated intrusive rock, granite of the Moldanubian pluton, which has been gradually exposed by erosion. Notable geomorphological features that were created by frost weathering during the ice age, such as rock towers, frost-riven cliffs, and extensive stone seas, are also part of the geopark.

How to Get There

Starting points for exploring the geopark are notably the historical town of Telč (inscribed on the UNESCO list) or the market town of Mrákotín. Telč is accessible by both train and bus and offers accommodation and parking options. It is also possible to arrive in Mrákotín, which is the centre of the stonecutting tradition, by bus or car. A network of marked tourist trails leads into the geopark from these places.

What You Can Discover in the Surroundings

The heart and symbol of Geopark Vysočina is the granite rock formation Míchova skála near the village of Řásná, which offers magnificent views of Javořická vrchovina. Significant localities also include the Štamberk nature reserve and the stone sea with a boulder slope and the ruins of Štamberk Castle. In Mrákotín, visitors can visit the Museum of Stonecutting and Underground, which documents the extraction and processing of Mrákotín granite, known throughout the republic (for example, the monolith at Prague Castle comes precisely from Mrákotín). Right in Telč, visitors can explore the Telč Underground and the historical centre. The geopark is crisscrossed by educational trails (for example, the "Geologická stezka") and cycle routes that lead visitors to abandoned flooded quarries, ponds, and peat bogs.

Poutní kostel sv. Jana Nepomuckého na Zelené Hoře is located near Žďár nad Sázavou. One of the most photogenic places in the Vysočina Region is a masterpiece of Baroque Gothic architecture, designed by Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel. The idea to build a pilgrimage church came from Abbot Václav Vejmluva in 1719. The abbot was inspired to pursue this concept by the discovery of preserved tissue in the tomb of John of Nepomuk, who was to be celebrated through the church as a saint and powerful patron. The beatification and canonisation of John of Nepomuk took place precisely at the time of the church's foundation.

The church was built in the early 1720s, with construction financed by the local Cistercian monastery. The foundation stone was laid on 16 May 1720, and the consecration of the temple took place on 27 September 1722. The architecture of the temple is timeless and remains unaffected by the conventional elements of the era in which it was created. The ground plan of the structure takes the shape of a five-pointed star. The number 5 is also present in other elements: the church features five chapels and five altars, visitors will see five stars and five angels on the high altar, the ambulatory surrounding the temple is in the shape of a ten-pointed star and contains five gates. This symbolism derives from the legend according to which a crown with five stars appeared at the site where John of Nepomuk drowned. This number may also signify the five wounds of Christ.

In July 1784, a fire broke out and completely destroyed the roof of the church, and the monastery was abolished two months later. Re-roofing was achieved solely thanks to the local inhabitants. In 1792, the Moravian-Silesian Gubernium permitted the repair of the church, conditioned upon the relocation of the cemetery to the complex, the church serving as a funeral chapel, and neither the bishopric nor the Gubernium providing financial participation in the repair and subsequent operation. Since 1994, the pilgrimage church has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In August 2014, management of the complex was taken over by the Roman Catholic Parish in Žďár nad Sázavou after more than 50 years. The surroundings of the church were originally bare; reforestation took place around the mid-19th century, renewed deforestation began in 2006, and the surroundings of the church have been in their original state since 2007. Extensive reconstruction took place within the complex from the spring of 2018 until October 2021, with restorers focusing on the renovation of both the exterior (windows, facades) and the interior (plaster, floors, stucco decoration, and furnishings). The project also included the restoration of the pilgrimage meadow near the church.

From April to October, a guided tour is prepared for visitors to the complex. Accompanied by a guide, visitors walk through the main western entrance gate, then across the cemetery directly into the church itself over the course of 45 minutes. Booking the tour in advance is recommended. The pilgrimage church complex is partially accessible to wheelchair users, though an accompanying person is advised during the tour.

Žďár nad Sázavou and its surroundings provide interesting opportunities for all types of tourists. In the event that visitors are interested in history, exploring the Žďár nad Sázavou Chateau alongside the church is certainly desirable. However, those drawn to nature may venture into the Žďárské vrchy Hills. For swimming in summer, the nearby Velké Dářko Lake is ideal.

Plenty of accommodation near the Poutní kostel sv. Jana Nepomuckého na Zelené Hoře can be found, and finding the right one for visitors is guaranteed. Žďár nad Sázavou offers interesting modern and design apartments, family guesthouses with a pleasant atmosphere, and hotels providing comprehensive care. Should the town not suit preferences, accommodation capacities in nearby Světnov can also be considered, where cosy cottages or private lodging are available. Whether visitors are believers or not, the Poutní kostel sv. Jana Nepomuckého na Zelené Hoře is certain to leave a strong impression. Visitors are invited to come and see for themselves by finding accommodation for their stay right away!

Romantic ruins above the Dyje River in the South Moravian

Region Hrad Cornštejn is a romantic ruin situated on a high headland above the Dyje River near the confluence with the Želetavka, located in the recreational area of the Vranovská přehrada. The originally small Gothic castle from the first half of the 14th century was built by the Lichtenburkové family and served to strengthen the defence of the nearby Bítov castle and to protect the route from Austria. It remained the property of Czech kings until it was conquered by the Hussites. In the 16th century, it ceased to be maintained and fell into disrepair. Today’s extensive ruins are the result of restoration work carried out in the 1970s, and thanks to its dramatic location, it is one of the most romantic places in southern Moravia.

Access

The ruins are located in the cadastral territory of the municipality of Bítov, approximately eight kilometres northwest of the town of Vranov nad Dyjí. It is possible to reach the parking lot below the castle by car, though its capacity is limited. Alternatively, it is possible to use seasonal boat transport on the Vranovská přehrada, which stops nearby. Cornštejn is accessible to tourists via marked trails, for example, following the yellow trail from the Chatová osada Bítov.

What is worth exploring

In the immediate vicinity, one can find the magnificent hrad Bítov, one of the oldest and most extensive castles in Moravia, known for its unique collection of taxidermy dogs and its reconstructed zoological garden. The surroundings are dominated by the Vranovská přehrada, which offers extensive opportunities for recreation and water sports during the summer season. In nearby Vranov nad Dyjí, it is worth visiting the majestic Baroque zámek, which is considered one of the most significant Baroque structures in the Czech Republic. The area is also criss-crossed by cycling and hiking trails leading through the Národní park Podyjí.