Vratěnín: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Vratěnín was declared a village heritage conservation zone (Vesnická památková zóna) in 1995 because of its heritage value. There are 21 listed buildings in the cadastral area of Vratěnín.

Culture

The parish Church of St James the Elder is a late Baroque building dating from 1771 to 1773. Three sculptures from the 18th century stand by the church: a sandstone statue of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child from the second quarter of the 18th century, as well as statues of St Francis Xavier and St John of Nepomuk from the first third of the 18th century, both made of shell limestone.

The former chateau, considered to be the original fortress of the village, stands on Vratěnín’s main square. The former monastery church was consecrated in 1739 and had two towers, two chapels and seven altars.

The building of the former post station in Vratěnín was built around 1700 by postmaster Jan Plessner. Vratěnín and Slavonice were the first post stations in Moravia.

In 1750, the inhabitants of Vratěnín decided to erect a statue of St Donatus on Šibeník Hill. St Donatus is venerated as the patron saint against storms, lightning and hail, and was intended to protect the village and its fields.

History

The “U kola” site has a 35-metre-wide core surrounded by a ditch 10 to 12 metres wide and 3.15 metres deep. The “U kola” archaeological site preserves the remains of a fortified settlement with a circular ground plan and a diameter of 65 metres. Archaeological finds in its surroundings include materials from the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, La Tène period and the early medieval period.

The Minimuzeum of Fortifications in Vratěnín is located in an atypical ŘOPík vz. 37 A-120N bunker dating from 1937. In connection with the fortifications, visitors can view historical weapons and equipment and learn about the so-called “false border” from the period of the former regime.

Groups of at least ten visitors can arrange a free guided tour of Vratěnín at least three days before their visit.

Nature and Trails

The Bílý kříž Nature Reserve protects vegetation on steep, sunny rocky slopes, the adjacent forest with a rich variety of species and ages, as well as protected plant and animal species. It is named after the rocky Bílý kříž lookout point, from which the marked Graselova stezka Vratěnín trail leads.

The trail is approximately 7 to 11 kilometres long and is a moderately difficult circular route with three stops. It passes by Vratěnínský rybník and branches off towards Graselova vyhlídka or Zlatá studánka. Vratěnín lies on the Prague–Vienna long-distance cycling route and the Iron Curtain Trail, EuroVelo 13.

Other places: Vrbovec, Blížkovice, Šanov, Blanné, Hnanice, Vranov nad Dyjí, Výrovice, Borotice

To the higher-level travel overview: Znojmo District.