Horní Dunajovice – Wine, Water and Unusual Local History

Horní Dunajovice combines cultural and historical discoveries with water, wine and concrete opportunities for active days. The town is therefore interesting for you if you are not looking for just one attraction, but want to combine different experiences: a distinctive church, historical architecture, a reservoir with sandy and gravel-sand beaches, and a strong wine-cellar tradition.

Church and Historical Traces

A defining building is the parish church of the Holy Trinity. It was built in 1540. Its tower is particularly striking: in the Czech Republic, it has the greatest deviation from the vertical per metre. This unusual detail makes the church a destination for anyone who also pays attention to distinctive architectural features when visiting a town.

The history of Horní Dunajovice also includes Starý zámek. The building probably originated in 1536, when Jindřich Březnický had an earlier fortress converted into a Renaissance château. In the 19th century, Starý zámek was converted into a granary. The former water-fortress building known as Starý zámek is currently not open to the public because of its poor condition.

Reservoir and Natural Monument

The Horní Dunajovice Reservoir offers a different way to spend the day. It covers 28 hectares and has predominantly sandy or gravel-sand beaches. The reservoir is used for swimming. It thus complements the town’s cultural themes with time spent by the water, without requiring you to experience the appeal of the landscape solely through a single historical attraction.

Another landscape feature is the protected natural monument Pod Šibeničním kopcem. It covers 3.5292 hectares. Its clearly stated size makes the protected area an independent nature-related theme during your stay and a contrast to the church, château history and wine architecture.

Wine Tradition and Active Activities

The Znojemská Wine Trail passes through Horní Dunajovice. Wine here is not limited to individual events, but is also reflected in the town’s built structure: in the northern part of Horní Dunajovice, several wine cellars have been excavated in sand and soft loess. There are approximately twenty wine cellars in total. The approximate number is deliberately intended as a guide rather than an exact inventory figure.

If you would like to plan your stay around a fixed date, Otevřené sklepy is a specific option. It is a wine tasting held on the first Saturday in June. For an active itinerary, the VINAŘ circuit is also available: it is 6 km long and suitable for inline skating. This allows you to combine wine and local culture with an active activity without losing sight of the destination’s historical themes.

Pilgrimage as a Special Occasion

Religious traditions are also part of the regional experience. At the pilgrimage site of Panna Maria Lurdská in Rybníky, two pilgrimages currently take place each year: on the last Sunday in May and the first Sunday in September. This occasion complements a visit to the parish church of the Holy Trinity with a pilgrimage tradition that continues to this day.

For comparison with other places from the same regional selection, you can also visit Vémyslice, Bítov, Jaroslavice, Bojanovice, Nový Šaldorf-Sedlešovice, Tasovice Nad Dyjí, Hrabětice and Chvalovice.

For the overarching travel overview: Znojmo District.