Pravlov: Nature Park, Church and Wine on the Jihlava

Pravlov combines the Jihlava with a remarkable landscape, an Early Gothic church, archaeological traces and Moravian winegrowing. Parts of the cadastral area lie within Niva Jihlava Nature Park. As a result, a trip to Pravlov focuses not only on the place name, but also on a varied combination of river landscape, cultural history, regional agriculture and cycle paths.

Natural surroundings on the Jihlava

Pravlov lies on the Jihlava. The river shapes Niva Jihlava Nature Park, whose floodplain landscape is defined by the Jihlava meandering freely between river sediments. Parts of Pravlov’s cadastral area belong to this nature park, which has existed since 1 June 1999 and covers approximately 1,300 hectares. This gives your travel planning a clear focus on the landscape: when you choose accommodation in Pravlov, you are opting for a place where the river and floodplain are among the most important features of the surrounding area.

The Jihlava is more than just a geographical designation. Its course between the river sediments describes a landscape with its own character and makes this natural area an independent part of the town’s history. Families can therefore get to know Pravlov through different discoveries: through the landscape by the river, the architectural landmarks in the town and the traces of human history that reach far back into the past.

Church and Traces of Early Human History

In the western part of Pravlov, on the right bank of the Jihlava, stands the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. It is an important cultural monument of the region and an Early Gothic church dating from the second half of the 13th century. Its Gothic tower dates from the early 15th century and is equipped with battlements and a masonry spire. This combination of early church architecture and a distinctive tower gives the town a clear historical focal point.

Another layer of history opens up at the Pravlov I archaeological site. It is considered the most important Lower Palaeolithic site in the entire region. The Lower Palaeolithic refers to the earliest phase of the Stone Age; in Pravlov, this term therefore points to a very early human past. A harpoon found in Pravlov at the end of the 19th century, made from the root of a mammoth molar, is kept at the Moravian Museum in Brno.

Winegrowing and Cycle Paths

The local character also includes the grape varieties Frankovka, Svatovavřinecké, Zweigeltrebe, Müller-Thurgau and Veltlínské zelené. They are successfully cultivated in Pravlov and made into wine. This aspect may be particularly interesting when choosing accommodation if you would like to combine a trip with regional cuisine and the landscape without reducing the town to a single theme.

Cyclists also find clear orientation in Pravlov: marked cycle paths intersect in the town, including a local route and the Brno Cycle Route. Thus, in addition to its natural and cultural history, the townscape also features designated routes. Depending on your preferred focus, you can therefore view Pravlov as a starting point for exploring the floodplain, as a place to stay shaped by cultural history, or as a wine and cycling destination. For additional local research, you can also look at Mělčany, Česká, Ivančice, Drahonín, Rajhrad, Unín, Pozořice and Kovalovice.

For the overarching travel overview: Brno-Country District.