This South Moravian town, part of the UNESCO-listed Lednice-Valtice Complex, has a grand Baroque palace and deep wine-making traditions dating to the 12th century.
Valtice, a small town in South Moravia, grew around its grand Baroque château, once home to the Liechtenstein family. When you walk through the UNESCO-protected Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, you'll find architectural gems like the Diana's Temple hunting lodge and the Rajstna Colonnade with its panoramic views. In the château's cellars dating to 1430, you can taste wines from the region's top producers, while the annual May wine markets bring together winemakers from across Moravia.
Inside the Baroque Château
You can explore over 20 rooms in the 18th-century Valtice Château. Walk through the château chapel from 1729 to see its gilded altar and ceiling paintings depicting religious scenes. The Dining Room impresses with its faux marble walls, musical instrument reliefs, and an 18th-century Rococo chandelier. Look for original red wallpaper in the Social Drawing Room, and stop by the Marble Hall to see a rare 15th-century painting of Christ. Visit between May and September from 9:00 to 17:00 daily, with shorter hours in other months.
Wine Experiences in Valtice
Visit the Wine Salon of the Czech Republic in the château's basement to taste the country's best Moravian and Bohemian wines. Take a guided tour through the 1430 wine cellars to learn about wine-making traditions while sampling local varieties. During the Valtice Wine Market each May, you can meet more than 100 winemakers in the château's riding hall. Walk the educational vineyard trail to see working vineyards and read about local grape varieties and cultivation methods on information panels.
Monuments in the Cultural Landscape
Walk 1.6 kilometers southwest of Valtice's center to reach the Rajstna Colonnade near the Austrian border. Climb this Classicist structure, designed by Josef Hardtmuth, for views across vineyards and South Moravian hills. Three kilometers northeast, you'll find Diana's Temple, built as a triumphal arch that became a hunting lodge for the Liechtenstein family. Look for Latin inscriptions about Diana, the Roman goddess of hunting, inside the building. You can join guided tours from April to October.
Transportation and Access
Take a train from Brno to Břeclav, then change for Valtice město station - the journey takes about one hour. Rent bikes from local shops to explore the 200-square-kilometer cultural landscape. Follow the marked Liechtenstein cycling trails between monuments, including the 39-kilometer Royal Trail connecting Moravian and Austrian sites.
Restored Baroque Theater
The 1790 château theater represents the final Baroque addition to Valtice Château. A 2014 restoration preserved its historical layout while adding modern technical systems. Watch period music and drama performances in this space equipped with reconstructed Baroque stage machinery. Join guided tours to learn about the theater's mechanical systems and architectural elements.
