Discover Podolí: Culture, Nature and Cycling

Podolí between Cultural Heritage and Natural Landscapes

Podolí brings together historical evidence, living traditions and landscape experiences within a small area. The village lies below the southern slopes of the Drahanská vrchovina highlands, on both sides of the Říčka stream. The watercourse and slopes provide the village with a landscape setting that complements its buildings and cultural attractions. This gives Podolí a distinct character for travellers looking for more from their accommodation than just a place to stay, and who also want interesting destinations to explore together.

History in the Village Centre and Museum

In the centre of Podolí, the Church of Saint John of Nepomuk stands in the square. It is also a cultural monument of the village. Another important testament to the past is the excavated burial ground of Podolí. It comprises 145 examined graves and is one of the largest burial grounds in Moravia. This allows visitors to combine their stay with an insight into regional history, without reducing Podolí to a single attraction.

The gallery featuring works by Rudolf Březa also has a special connection to the village: it is based in the artist’s original studio. The gallery thus links the works on display with a specific place where the artist worked. A visit complements the historical impressions with an artistic perspective and provides another destination for a culturally oriented stay.

Traditions with Set Dates

Podolí showcases its history not only through buildings and collections. The commemorative event “Napoleonic Fires on Žuráň” takes place every year on the anniversary of the Battle of Austerlitz and is held in the presence of soldiers in uniform. Those who would like to visit the village for a specific occasion can also note the date of Babské hody. This festival is celebrated in traditional dress on the last Saturday in August. The two dates give a stay a different focus: historical remembrance in one case, and regional festival tradition in the other.

Landscape and Cycling around Podolí

Horka is part of the village’s natural character. This 1.9435-hectare nature monument in Podolí protects thermophilous steppe communities on Culm conglomerates. Its focus is therefore the combination of heat-loving vegetation and the distinctive geological substrate. The precise connection between the geological bedrock and the protected vegetation makes Horka a remarkable landscape feature within the village.

Podolí also offers a small pump track for active days. The circuit, with its rollers and bermed corners, is used to practise cycling skills and pumping technique. The pump track thus complements the cycle path that leads from Podolí to Mariánské údolí after two kilometres by providing a place for focused technical training. Those who want to combine different interests during one trip can include cultural attractions, nature observation and cycling in their plans.

More Destinations for Your Research

If you would like to broaden your search for a suitable place to stay, you can also find Pohořelice, Drásov, Loděnice, Boudy, Unkovice, Branišovice, Zbraslav and Česká here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Brno-Country District.