Bítov – Castles, Nature and Brewing Culture

Bítov combines impressive castles, protected landscapes, waterside paths and regional brewing culture. At its heart is Bítov Castle: it stands at the confluence of the Želetavka and Dyje rivers and was once a royal fortress protecting the southern border of the state from incursions from Austria. Its location on two rivers also makes the town a starting point for historical sightseeing and waterside activities. If you would like to combine culture, nature and active excursions, the town offers several clearly distinct experiences.

Castles and Trails around Bítov

A special way to explore the surrounding area is the Jindřich Daun educational trail. It begins in Chvalatice and ends at Bítov Castle. The trail has six stations, takes about two hours to visit, is classified as easy and can be visited year-round. The combination of a set route, six stations and a duration of around two hours makes it a clearly defined hike rather than an open-ended outing without a time frame. This allows you to combine a cultural and historical excursion with a manageable distance without limiting yourself to a single building.

There is also a route from Bítov Castle to Cornštejn Castle. Cornštejn is surrounded by a nature reserve of the same name, which protects preserved woodland, rocks and scree slopes. The castle can be reached on foot from Bítov. The approach from the reservoir bridge follows a road and a forest path and is 400 m long. Anyone wishing to combine the walk with a castle visit will encounter a succession of a road, forest path and underground installation. In Cornštejn’s underground rooms, a themed installation illustrates what medieval castle cellars looked like and how they were used.

Nature Experiences by the Water and in the Forest

For an outing with a different focus, the natural outdoor swimming area in Horka Bay is available. Boats and pedal boats can be rented there. The Bítov circular cycling route Pivovarská 12 attracts not only cyclists but also hikers and recreational athletes who jog. This gives you a choice between a castle excursion, a route through the landscape and time by the water.

Smaller discoveries are also part of the townscape. In the Obora woodland stands the stone pavilion known as the “Rotunda”. The structure is a fragment of a 19th-century Neo-Gothic hunting pavilion and complements the larger cultural attractions with a single unusual building in the forest.

Brewing Culture in a Former Fire Station

At Hasičský pivovar Bítov, Czech lagers have been brewed since autumn 2015 in the premises of a former fire station using traditional brewing technology. Groups can book a guided brewery tour with a tasting of Tesák beer; the entire brewing equipment is on display in the taproom. This provides your travel planning with a distinct cultural focus that is not limited to castles or landscapes.

You can discover other places from the same selection directly: Jevisovice, Jamolice, Horní Kounice, Výrovice, Mikulovice, Tavíkovice, Kuchařovice and Havraníky.

For the higher-level travel overview: Znojmo District.