Vratěnín: Heritage Zone, History and Trails

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

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. The former monastery church was consecrated in 1739 and had two towers, two chapels and seven altars.

The former small chateau on the market square is considered to be the original fortress of the village. The “U kola” archaeological site preserves the remains of a fortified settlement with a circular layout and a diameter of 65 metres. The “U kola” site has a 35-metre inner area surrounded by a ditch 10 to 12 metres wide and 3.15 metres deep.

Archaeological finds in the vicinity of the “U kola” site include materials from the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, La Tène period and the early medieval period. The Vratěnín Mini-Museum of Fortifications is located in an atypical ŘOPík vz. 37 A-120N bunker from 1937.

In connection with the fortifications in Vratěnín, visitors can view historical weapons and equipment and learn about the so-called “false border” from the period of the former regime. In 1750, the inhabitants of Vratěnín decided to erect a statue of Saint Donatus on Šibeník hill. Saint Donatus is revered as the patron saint against storms, lightning and hail; the statue was intended to protect the village and the fields.

The Bílý kříž Nature Reserve protects vegetation on steep, sunny rocky slopes, the adjacent species-rich and age-diverse woodland, as well as protected plant and animal species. The nature reserve is named after the rocky Bílý kříž viewpoint; from there, a marked trail, the Graselova Trail, leads onward.

The Graselova Trail Vratěnín is a circular route of approximately 7 to 11 kilometres, of moderate difficulty, 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 cycle route and the Iron Curtain Trail, EuroVelo 13.

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

Kadov, Dolenice, Milíčovice, Lukov, Slup, Horní Dunajovice, Vrbovec, Hrabětice

To the higher-level travel overview: Znojmo District.