A historic Moravian town with wine cellars, Renaissance buildings, and a lively cultural scene centered around its main square and annual film festival.
Uherské Hradiště, a town of 25,000 in southeast Moravia, sits where history and culture meet. Walk past the tilted tower of the Baroque town hall, enter Mařatice wine cellars where Pinot Blanc ferments with sourdough scents, or stand in Masarykovo Square below the 17th-century Church of Saint Francis Xavier. The Morava River, once part of medieval defenses, now winds through areas with cobblestone streets leading to museums holding artifacts from the Great Moravian Empire. Each July, the Summer Film School brings crowds open open-air movies, and outside the center, vineyards and Rochus Nature Park’s sheep pastures set a quieter pace.
Historic Center and Architecture
The protected historic area of Uherské Hradiště focuses on two medieval squares connected by a leaning town hall. Built on wooden foundations similar to Venice’s, this 17th-century building tilts noticeably, its tower serving as a recognizable point for orientation. In Masarykovo Square, the Jesuit church of Saint Francis Xavier rises with twin domes and an ochre exterior, housing altars covered in gold leaf inside. Next to it, the Franciscan monastery mixes Gothic stone vaults from 1491 with Baroque additions like painted cloister ceilings. Streets narrow as they approach Virgin Mary Square, lined with pastel-colored buildings that now host cafes and stores selling Slovácko embroidery.
Museums and Cultural Legacy
Founded in 1895, the Slovácko Museum exhibits items like metal belt decorations from the Great Moravian period, 1800s folk clothing, and vineyard tools. A short walk east, the Moravian Slovakia Museum presents traditional rural life through restored cottage rooms and masks once used in springtime customs. For hands-on engagement, stop at the Krojový textil shop near the squares, where workers hand-sew embroidered ribbons still used in local celebrations. Those curious about early history can visit Modrá Archeoskanzen, an 8 km trip north, to see reconstructed Slavic homes from the 9th century and watch blacksmiths shape iron tools.
Wine Culture and Mařatice Cellars
In Mařatice, northeast of the center, more than 200 white-painted wine cellars from the 1800s line the streets. These low, arched buildings with dirt floors invite visitors to sample Pinot Blanc directly from barrels, tasting its sharp mineral qualities and a hint of baked bread from local yeast. Some cellars, like U Janíků or Včelínek, run by families, let you try wines without formal appointments. Afterward, take the marked path to Rochus Nature Park, where a wooden tower overlooks vineyards and the Chapel of St. Roch, a pilgrimage spot since the 1600s.
Events and Local Life
Late July brings the Summer Film School, turning the town into a place for movie lovers with films projected in courtyards and discussions in old factory spaces. During September’s Slovácko Vintage Festival, streets fill with folk music groups, processions wearing traditional dress, and stalls offering burčák. For quieter activities, attend a classical performance in the Franciscan monastery’s echoing hall or explore modern art exhibits at Galerie Slováckého muzea, located in a former synagogue.
Surrounding Attractions
From Uherské Hradiště, you can reach six popular sites in the Zlín Region. Velehrad Basilica, 5 km west, combines Gothic and Baroque styles and contains 12th-century paintings in its crypt. Buchlov Castle, 12 km northwest, sits atop a wooded hill with views stretching far into the distance on clear days. Families often visit Kovozoo in Staré Město, a park with animal sculptures made from old machinery parts, or Živá voda in Modrá, a wetland area with paths past beaver lodges and glass panels showing fish below the water.
Practical Information
The town’s railway station, redesigned in 2004 with a glass roof, has direct trains to Brno (1.5 hours) and Prague (3.5 hours). Buses leave regularly for Zlín (30 minutes) and Buchlovice Castle (25 minutes). Most central attractions are within walking distance, but renting a bike at the station helps explore riverside trails leading to Staré Město’s ancient ruins. Plan trips between May and September for festivals and open vineyards, though winter visits let you study building details without summer crowds.
