The sunny weather has arrived and it looks like it is here to stay. What better way to spend these days than to get out and explore? If you are looking for an adventure close to Brno, Lednice could be a good choice.
A bit of history
Since the 13th century, this charming village in South Moravia has belonged to the Liechtenstein family. As their summer residence, it became more breathtaking with each new ruling prince and the changes he made.
In 1945, when the place was seized by the Czechoslovak government, the palace was opened to the public. Later, in 1996, the entire Lednice-Valtice complex was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The unique site, which is looked after by the National Heritage Institute based in Kroměříž, attracts tourists from all over the country and abroad.
Lednice Palace – tours
Lednice Chateau is undoubtedly the most famous attraction in the village – you cannot miss it once you arrive.
To see the inside of this majestic place, you need to buy a ticket for a tour with a guide who will take you through the rooms. Most places are open to visitors from 9am to 5pm, but it is always worth checking online to see if anything has changed. You can also buy tickets on the website or at the ticket office.
Visitors can choose one of the three different routes – Representatives Rooms (primary route), Private Apartments and Children’s Rooms, and the Theatre Doll Museum. Prices range from CZK 140 to CZK 240 (for students).
The guide who accompanies you will unfortunately only speak Czech if you are not an independently organised group. However, as a foreigner, there are ways to understand and enjoy your tour. At the entrance, you can pick up a small booklet with a translated version of the guide’s narration, available in many languages, including English, Spanish, Italian and Polish. It is certainly not a perfect option, as it is difficult to read and look around at the same time, and you might miss the occasional joke from the guide. However, you can keep it and read it later to enjoy the present moment of walking through these historic places.
During the basic tour, you will have the opportunity to see some of the most stunning rooms in the palace. These include the Library with its striking wooden staircase, which legend has it was carved from a single oak tree, and the Turquoise Room with its coffered ceiling of Canadian walnut.
Other tours
On the website you can also buy tickets for other attractions such as the Grotta, the Greenhouse, the Minaret and John's Castle. What are these?
The Grotta is an artificial Baroque stalactite cave in the cellar of the castle. There you can see the technical rooms of the chateau and an exhibition of Lednice winery.
Greenhouse – this place full of greenery is the result of changes made by Prince Aloys II Joseph. He decided to rebuild the wooden orangery, which at that time was about 150 years old, and transform it into a structure made mainly of steel, cast iron and glass.
The Minaret is also known as the Turkish Tower. At 60 metres high (making it one of the tallest in Europe), it provides a good view of the whole area. Even if you don’t feel like climbing all 302 steps or even looking inside, there is still plenty to see on the outside of the structure.
John’s Castle is much more modest than the Palace, although it was originally planned to be more lavish. This place served as a hunting lodge and the home of the local herald. People used to gather here before the hunt and at the end of the season to celebrate and crown the King of the Hunt.
Lednice-Valtice complex – outdoors
If you are someone who loves nature more than history, Lednice still has a lot to offer. One part of the area boasts the breathtaking beauty of the well-kept royal garden, with fountains, colourful flowers and perfectly trimmed bushes. Further along, you will discover a park that is perfect for a stroll.
Not enough nature? Say no more.
On the other side (towards the Minaret, which can be seen in the distance) you can walk along a more wooded/natural path.
Many of the aforementioned green spaces are also ideal for a picnic or perhaps a to-go drink from the café in the palace.
Travel
If you like what you see, the first question you will probably ask yourself is: how do I get there? There are a number of options.
The easiest and most convenient way is by car. You can get there in about 40 minutes if you drive there without detours. There is a paid car park about 4 minutes from the Lednice-Valtice complex entrance with plenty of parking space.
The second way is by train. There is a direct train from Brno to Lednice only once a week on Saturdays. The journey takes about 2:30 hours. A better option is to take one of the indirect trains, which run several times a day (and the journey is relatively short, about 1:15) – most of them require you to change in Břeclav.
Lednice – what else to see?
The Lednice Palace and its surroundings are not the only places worth seeing while you are there. Here are some other options:
Torture Museum – for the macabre or just history buffs, one thing is for sure: it is not for the faint of heart. This attraction is about 11 minutes from the Palace. As the name suggests, here you can learn about various instruments of torture, their use and stories.
Sochy z písku – Sand sculptures may conjure up images of sand castles, but they have nothing to do with them (except for the materials). These are detailed and certainly breathtaking, making you wonder how they stay up. If you want to see them, learn about the process and maybe even try your hand at sculpting, remember two things: bring cash (they don't accept cards) and check the website for opening hours (they vary from month to month).
Don’t forget that Lednice is also a wine village. You can try local wine in one of the many cafés or visit the winery’s Wine Bar.
These are just three of the many places worth visiting. Some others are the Temple of Apollo, the Rybniční Chateau, the Temple of the Three Graces, and Nature Reservoirs. As you can tell there is plenty to do in Lednice. Maybe this is a plan for your weekend?
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