Čejč – Wine Cellars, Nature and History

Čejč between Nature, Local History and Wine Tradition

Čejč brings together several very different discoveries: wetland habitats with ponds, a geological outcrop resulting from earlier mining, historic religious buildings and the traditional Pod Búdama wine-cellar complex. If you would like to combine nature observation, culture and regional wine tradition on your trip, the town offers specific opportunities to do so. This also creates a varied selection for families with different interests, without every activity having to be of the same nature.

Ponds, Springs and a Geological Outcrop

The Pod Dráhou Biocentre comprises three ponds with a total area of nearly 1 hectare. They help retain water in the landscape and provide habitats for numerous plant and animal species, including insects, birds and reptiles. This means that the focus here is not merely on a body of water, but on a biocentre where the importance of such landscape features can be understood directly.

Another special feature is the Výchoz natural monument. It is an artificial outcrop created by sand and lignite mining on the wooded slopes of the former “Čejčské jezero” lake. The outcrop contains fossil shells of the snail Melanopsis posterior and the mussel Congeria ornithopsis. The site thus connects the visible landscape with traces of its geological past. On the outskirts of Čejč, the Heliga sulphur spring also rises from a stone well.

Churches and Places of Remembrance

The Church of St Vendelín is mentioned as early as 1222 and was consecrated in 1257. Inside, it has a Baroque altarpiece on the high altar featuring a painting of its patron, St Vendelín. The chronogram on the painting dates it to 1731. Those who wish to discover historical details not only through architectural forms but also through specific dates will find a clear chronological arc here, from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period.

In the Lúčky district, the Chapel of St Vendelín stands at the intersection of three roads. It is partly shaded by a centuries-old linden tree. Another site leads to Čejč’s more recent and equally painful history: the memorial plaque for the Jewish citizens recalls that 49 people from Čejč were deported to concentration camps and that six survived. This memorial site complements the older sights with an important remembrance of the town’s people.

Pod Búdama Wine Cellars and Encounters with Winemakers

The Pod Búdama wine-cellar complex attracts visitors with its picturesque appearance and distinctive atmosphere. A regularly held open-wine-cellar event is open to the general public. It is complemented by convivial gatherings and conversations about wine with local winemakers. If you would rather get to know regional traditions through direct interaction than solely through a sight, this provides a distinct focus for your stay.

Practical Information for Active Exploration

An approximately 600 m-long paved farm road leads to the Pod Dráhou Biocentre. In addition, the route along the railway to Mutěnice was upgraded with an asphalt surface in 2024. As a result, Čejč is conveniently and safely accessible via the Mutěnka route as far as Kyjov. These documented connections are particularly interesting if you would like to combine your stay with active exploration of the surrounding area. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore weigh a focus on local history and wine cellars against a stay centred more strongly on the landscape, ponds and connecting routes.

For further destinations in the same broader travel area, you can also compare Uhřice, Bukovany, Bzenec, Želetice, Lipov, Malá Vrbka, Celoznice and Josefov U Hodonína.

For the broader travel overview: Hodonín District.