The Heart of Moravia BOOK TOUR

A Place of Pilgrimage and So Much More
Uherske Hradiště is well worth 2 or more days


Uherské Hradiště combines the riches of the plain, the fruitfulness of the hillsides and the wilderness of the mountains.  This 13th-century town guards the Morava River on the plain. Built by King Otakar II to protect the rich trade routes through Moravia from invaders.  Just a few miles west or east of the city, hills rise gently.  Here many vines take in the long summer sun, and plum trees sag with the weight of ripening fruit.  Beyond the hills are the wooded mountains, trails creased along their sides and over their rounded peaks.

Uherské Hradiště

Once the fortress-protector, the town is now the gentle heart of these lands. Every year during its wine festival, people from the surrounding region enter the city singing traditional songs - more gypsy csárdás than Germanic omp-pa-pa. When not dancing in their towns’ unique clothing, called kroj, they share the riches of their villages with their neighbors.  The event celebrates the life they live every day.

Explore that life with us!  Visit the city’s squares (and perhaps one of the most unique zoos in the world) before setting off to discover a happy-go-lucky countryside.  Any direction could merit days of exploration.  

To the northwest is Velehrad, one of Slavic Christianity’s greatest shrines dedicated to Sts. Cyril and Methodius. The Basilica in Velehrad takes the Chřiby Mountains as its backdrop.


To the southwest, the vineyards of Polešovice make some of the best wines of the Czech Republic. This town interacts with nearby Hodonín, Strážnice and Kyjov, to create a heart of Czech wine culture. It is also the center for folk music and dance, recognized internationally by an annual festival.




Heading east, into the Bilé Karpaty (White Carpathians), hikers will see castle ruins and traditional villages upon the fertile landscape. In this region the mystery of slivovice (plum brandy) and the spirits of other fruits distilled to perfection.  Bike trails run along the rivers, branch off into the hills, and wind their way back to Uherské Hradiště where a variety of options for a good meal and a comfortable bed wait.  

To the northeast, the heart of Moravia’s industry, Zlín, the town that Baťa built. The legacy of this 20th-century industrial empire can be found a network of canals, pathways for cyclists and houseboats, as well as an architectural legacy that includes masters like Corbusier.



For families traveling with children, Uherské Hradiště is an ideal destination. Indeed, there is something here for every taste and generation.  The region deserves at least a full day to explore, but one should spend several more days to discover some of its many surprises.

 

Price - (up to 3 passengers / 4 to 7 passengers)
$425 / $500 - for a 10 hour day trip from Prague
$375 / $450 - per day for extended travel (three or more days)

Includes transportation with English speaking driver/guide
(cost vehicle of fuel, highway fees and parking)
Price does not include food, beverage, entry fees or lodging
(recommended lodging available on request)