If you love castles, beautiful landscapes, or wine, the South Moravian Region (Jihomoravský kraj) is the perfect choice. This area is famous for wine tourism and historical architecture. The most popular way to see everything is by visiting Lednice, Valtice, Mikulov Castles and cities.
Why Visit Mikulov, Lednice, Valtice
Lednice and Valtice are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site called the “Garden of Europe.” While Mikulov is not on the UNESCO list, it is a fairytale town that definitely deserves your time.
South Moravia is also famous for its vineyards. You will see many signs for a “Vinotéka” (wine shop) or “Vinařství” (winery). These are great places to taste and buy local products.
The South Moravian Region is easily accessible from the city of Brno. If you are starting your journey there, check out my guide on What to Do in Brno: 20+ Most Interesting Places to make the most of your time in the city before heading to the castles.
Mikulov: A Fairytale Castle Town
No matter how you arrive in Mikulov, you will not miss the castle. It is clearly visible from many places in the town. Park your car (parking costs about 30–40 CZK per hour), walk to the castle, and enjoy the calm atmosphere of this small town.
The castle looks like something from a fairytale. It has beautiful Baroque gates, statues, and a nice garden. From the castle area you also get great views of the town.
If you want the best view of the castle, you should climb the nearby hill called Holy Hill (Svatý kopeček).
The walk takes about 15–20 minutes uphill, but the view is amazing. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to go there during my visit — and I really regret it. I will definitely go next time.
All attractions in Mikulov and nearby you could find in official web of local museum. In same page you can reserve a place in excursions an pay for it.
Valtice: Wine and UNESCO Heritage
The small town of Valtice lies in the middle of the South Moravian wine region. The chateau and surrounding gardens were created by the powerful House of Liechtenstein family.
One interesting detail: Part of the castle complex is used as a hotel. This means you can actually sleep inside a historic castle. Inside it looks like a usual hotel, but you still stay within historic Baroque walls.
If you prefer normal accommodation, there are many hotels and guesthouses in the town. Most of them are only 5–10 minutes walk from the castle.
Inside the chateau you can also visit the famous National Wine Salon of the Czech Republic, where the 100 best Czech wines are presented. There are also small shops selling local chocolate and sweets.
If you need information, you can ask at the hotel reception. When I visited, the staff were very helpful and happy to answer questions.
🚌 Planning your transport? Before you set off, check out our complete, step-by-step transit guide on how to go to Lednice, Valtice, and Mikulov by car, train, or bus to choose the best route for your day trip.
Lednice – Neo-Gothic Castle and the “Garden of Europe”
For me, the most impressive place was Lednice.
Maybe it was the beautiful Neo-Gothic architecture, which is less common in the Czech Republic. Or maybe it was the huge English-style park around the castle.
Near the castle you will find a formal garden with geometrically shaped plants, sculptures, and a fountain in the center.
Further away there is a large natural park with lakes, islands, and many birds. Huge old trees create a peaceful atmosphere.
A pleasant walking path leads along the lake and through the park to another unusual attraction: the Lednice Minaret.
This tall tower looks like something from the Middle East, which makes it a very surprising sight in the Czech countryside.
Best Time to Visit Lednice, Valtice, Mikulov
The best time to visit South Moravian Region (and Lednice, Valtice, Mikulov too) is spring, summer and early autumn. September is especially popular because of the wine harvest season. Many towns organize wine festivals and tastings. Summer is perfect for walking through the parks around Lednice and exploring vineyards near Mikulov.
My experience
We visited Lednice, Valtice and Mikulov in early spring, at the beginning of March. The weather was sunny and quite warm — about +14 °C during the day. At this time the landscape is not very colorful yet, but it is a great period for photographing buildings and castles.
Later in spring, summer, and autumn, the parks become very green. This is beautiful, but sometimes trees and leaves can cover the view of the buildings.
In my opinion, late March or April may be the best time for photos. The leaves are still small and bright, and many flowers begin to bloom. This creates a beautiful background for pictures.
During our visit we also saw many announcements about local wine festivals starting in the coming weeks. In this region, many wine events take place from mid-March until the end of April.
Tip: If you want both good weather and beautiful photos, late March and April are excellent months to visit South Moravia.
Best Photo Spots for Lednice, Valtice, Mikulov
The best places for photos are:
• The hill above Mikulov near Holy Hill (Svatý kopeček)
• My best – The entrance to Valtice Chateau
• The park and lake near Lednice Chateau
• The tower of the Lednice Minaret
