EV13 Stage 6 - Znojmo - Retz

Description

From the medieval town of Znojmo you will go past the first centre for tourist information and services in the Czech Republic, then you will cross the bridge and climb the unpaved path through Konice to Havraníky. Next will be Šatov with a nice wine-cellar lane, a painted wine-cellar and a bunker behind the village. In Austria, be sure not to miss the wine centre of Retz.

From the medieval town of Znojmo, towering above the Thaya River, you will cross the bridge and climb the unpaved path through Konice to Havraníky, where you can taste local wines. The area of wine cellars in Havraníky is situated at the lower end of the village. The next stop will be Šatov with a nice wine-cellar lane, a painted wine-cellar and a bunker behind the village. The painted wine-cellar is unusual because its walls are decorated with colourful sculptural paintings of dwarfs, mermaids and other motifs. The infantry log cabin MJ-S3 “Garden” is open to the public. Its appearance from the 1980s was restored, including the camouflage exterior which was used on the cabin in this period. The building is equipped with original weaponry and equipment used here between 1960 and 1999, including two fortress guns of type 44/59. Then, the journey is now focused entirely on wine and vineyards. Don’t forget to visit the wine centre in the nearby wine-producing town of Retz. The town grew rich mainly thanks to the wine trade, as evidenced by the decorative houses in the main square and the underground labyrinth of corridors and cellars.

Starting point of the tour

Znaim

Destination point of the tour

Retz

Route description EV13 Stage 6 - Znojmo - Retz

From the bottom of the valley a bridge leads to the other side of the river, where the route begins to ascend to the top of the Kraví Hora (Cow Hill). Here you can again stop for a look and enjoy the panoramic view of the old town of Znojmo. Then the route leads through a landscape with heaths, which continues behind the villages of Konice and Popice. Genuine heathlands (the Havranická, or Fládnitzská Heathlands) start at the chapel behind Popice and lead up to the hill above Havraníky. When visibility is good, you can see the Alps from the chapel on a small hill above Havraníky. The villages of Konice, Popice and Havraníky are surrounded not just by vineyards but also by numerous crosses, shines and chapels. In Šatov, the last stop before the Austrian border, there are three infantry bunkers, a nature trail and remnants of the Iron Curtain consisting of wire fences, a watchtower and concrete barriers. The rest of the journey is entirely about wine and a view of the vineyards will be revealed to you. You will get to know the charming wine-growing villages, such as Mitterretzbach and Oberretzbach, and you have an opportunity to watch winemakers at work. In the Weinviertel wine region, cellar lanes are considered an important cultural and historical element, as they have shaped the Weinviertel and its landscape for many years. The wine cellars in these lanes were used as production and storage facilities in the past. Today, wine is usually pressed at the wineries, but in many places the cellar lanes are preserved and revived on special occasions. From there, the route leads to the sacred Heiligerstein, where the foundations of a medieval church are still preserved. There is a round viewpoint on the hill, from which you can see the lowlands of Moravia and Austria, mainly occupied by vineyards wherever you look. Not far from the belfry, there is a holy stone that is said to convey its magical power to any person who sits atop it. The final destination of the route is Retz, to which the journey leads through picturesque Austrian vineyards. Retz is a small, quiet town with a rich air of history and many tourist attractions. Among many other sights, the historical square with fountains, which are filled with wine during the wine festival, can be mentioned. The Town Hall Tower serves as a vantage point for the surrounding scenery. Another option you have is to visit the town’s underground, a long and complex labyrinth of wine cellars, the largest historical wine cellar in Austria. Above the town, you can climb 500 m up to the romantic Retzer windmill, which is the only functional windmill in Austria.