Melnik: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Viticulture has been associated with Mělník and its surroundings since at least the 10th century.

History

Mělník Castle stands on the site of an early medieval fortification. Around the middle of the 12th century, a Romanesque stone castle occupied the acropolis of Mělník. In the second half of the 13th century and during the 14th century, the castle was rebuilt in the Gothic style.

The St. Ludmila vineyard lies directly below Mělník Castle and is still planted with Burgundy vines. Visitors can tour the castle’s interior and its wine cellars; the castle winery continues the local winemaking tradition.

Culture and the Underground

The wine-growing exhibition of the Mělník Regional Museum is housed in historic cellars beneath the museum building. These cellars date from the second half of the 14th century.

The Gothic viewing tower of the Church of St. Peter and Paul was built between 1483 and 1488. After a devastating fire, it received a Baroque onion dome dating from 1681. In a crypt beneath the presbytery of the same church is the Mělník ossuary, which served as an ossuary from at least the 1530s until 1787. Bones and skulls are arranged there in the shapes of an anchor, a cross and a heart.

The Prague Gate is the oldest surviving part of Mělník’s medieval fortifications; the current form of the tower dates from 1536. At the Ve Věži Gallery, the Prague Gate hosts contemporary art exhibitions. The windows of the fifth and highest floor offer views over the city.

Mělník’s underground system was gradually created in the sandstone and marlstone of Mělník Hill during the 13th and 14th centuries and extends beneath the entire historic old town. Tours of the underground areas of Mělník begin at the Tourist Information Centre at Legionářů 51, 276 01 Mělník. The underground heritage also includes Mělník’s medieval well, which is approximately 4.5 m wide and 54 m deep.

Water and Views

The gallery of the Gothic viewing tower of the Church of St. Peter and Paul is located at a height of 37 m. From there, views extend over Mělník Castle, the St. Ludmila vineyard, the Elbe and Vltava rivers, and the side canal with its lock.

Nearby, the Vraňany–Hořín Navigation Canal lies directly opposite the viewpoint at the confluence of the Elbe and Vltava rivers. The nearby locks of the Vraňany–Hořín Navigation Canal, dating from 1905 and still functioning as a technical monument in the Art Nouveau style, can also be reached and visited from Mělník Castle via a yellow-marked hiking trail.

Wine and Festival Tradition

The Mělník Regional Museum presents changing exhibitions on art, travel and topics for children and has a museum café. The Masaryk Culture House is a state-protected monument and the headquarters of the registered association Mělnické kulturní centrum – Mekuc. The association offers cultural, entertainment and educational programmes for children and adults.

Mělnické vinobraní is an annual three-day September festival featuring wine tastings, regional gastronomic specialities and a traditional procession of Charles IV through the city.

Further Places

The following places are also available for further exploration of the region: Kanina, Všestudy, Kadlín, Kojetice, Liblice, Lužec Nad Vltavou, Hořín and Zálezlice.

For the broader travel overview: Mělník District.