South Moravia

Archiv měsíce 9. 2009

Lake management passion, 500 years of history

28 9 2009

Aromatic grass carp, Miller’s trout or wild catfish. Those are the delicacies that can be appreciated by many food connoisseurs. One does not need to travel as far as Southern Bohemia to taste some fresh water fish specialities. Even restaurants in the south of Moravia are able to prepare fish dishes that not only look good but are also very tasty and they do so using entirely fresh fish. It is because the area of Southern Moravia, being the basin of both the rivers Morava and Dyje, is abundant with many lakes.

The Lednice lakes are the well-known work of Moravian lake managers. They include the lakes Nesyt, Hlohovecký, Prostřední, Mlýnský and Zámecký and make up an area of 544 hectares of water surface that is used not only for fish breeding purposes but since 1952 it has also been a National natural preserve.

Autor: Petr Cibulka

Tagy: Břeclav, Lednice, Lichtensteins, Traditions, Valtice

Wine salon of the Czech Republic

Rubrika: Tourism|Wine

28 9 2009

The lovers of wine can not simply pass through Lednice-Valtice area without stopping at the wine tasting exposition of the Wine Salon of Czech Republic at the Valtice chateau. This exhibition of Czech viticulture introduces the best 100 wines that were awarded with the title-label “Wine salon of the Czech Republic.” National competition of Moravian and Czech wines “Wine salon of the Czech Republic” is the top, most reputable, highest wine competition in the Czech Republic and it tops the system of other nominating competitions.

Autor: Michaela Cibulková

Tagy: Lednice, Traditions, Valtice, Wine tasting

Daniel Piršč sets up new trends for porcelain

Rubrika: Culture|Tourism

23 9 2009

The dream of designer Daniel Piršč came true in Mikulov. He chose this South Moravian town over Prague where he had lived for almost two decades and in 2005 he opened his own registered studio called Studio Pirsc Porcelain. Art manufacturing was born in poetic surroundings of a ceremonial hall at the Mikulov Jewish cemetery. It is here where unique pieces of art are created which are an interesting alternative to porcelain mass production.

Autor: Iva Solaříková

Tagy: Design, Jews, Mikulov, Porcelain

The most beautiful being is a horse

Rubrika: Tourism

20 9 2009

Climate, environmental and soil habitat of Southern Moravia are close to those of the nearby Uhry region that is famous for the breeding of horses. However, not many large stud farms have been established in this area. Horses were bred here at most aristocratic mansions which is proved today by the presence of opulent chateau stables. The aristocracy bred horses for their own needs, they rode them and used them for carriages. In breeding they preferred fine types of horses with a higher share of an Arabic horse and later on of an English Thoroughbred if it was not a Thoroughbred itself. The idea of breeding other powerful warm-blooded horses on these mostly sandy soils, with dry, slightly windy climate and with a low density vegetation, defeated the object of horse breeding with the exception of the chateau stud farm in Kopčany, founded by the empress Maria Theresa in 1765. But even here the breeding of a powerful horse, the Horse of Kladruby in this case, arrived accidentally.

Autor: Stanislav Hošák

Tagy: Horse, Lednice

The history of Lednice castle

Rubrika: Culture|Tourism

20 9 2009

The first historical record of the castle in Lednice comes from 1222. At this time, a gothic fortress and courtyard stood here, which Czech king, Václav (Wenceslas) I, granted to Austrian nobleman Siegfried Sirotek.

At the end of the 13th century, the Lichtenstein family became owners of the whole of Lednice and nearby Mikulov. Originally from Styria in Austria, over time they expanded their ownership of land on both sides of the Moravia-Austria border. They become owners of Lednice in 1322.

Later to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the country, the Lichtenstein family had no special status in the Middle Ages and their properties were much more modest. And it was in Austria that they owned large swathes of land.

Autor: Michaela Cibulková

Tagy: Lednice, Lichtensteins

Jewish quarter in Mikulov

Rubrika: Culture|Tourism

18 9 2009

Every evening, reflections of soft light can be seen in the windows of the Jewish quarter in Mikulov. Pinkish wall of the Upper Synagogue, arches of ground floor housing and their shadowy alcoves are the last reminders of rich Jewish past in town. Stories, that became legends, had been written on four thousand tombstones in the Jewish cemetery. For example the one about Golem, a strong man made of clay that is brought to life by having a marble put in his forehead. This artificial man was created right in the Jewish quarter of Mikulov. And that was in the head of former Mikulov rabbi Jehud Levy.

Autor: Iva Solaříková

Tagy: Jews, Mikulov

Greyhounds on a race track

Rubrika: Culture|Tourism

18 9 2009

Lenka Malinovská has got devout companions. She is mostly surrounded by Arab greyhounds on a race track in Lednice. She thinks of Sloughi as of a man friendly animal that can look up to her as being somewhat artistic. It is there for a person that does not require strict obedience maintained by silly drill exercises and expressing their own dominance.

Autor: Svatava Rudolfová

Tagy: Greyhounds, Lednice, Traditions

Vintage in Czech Republic

Rubrika: Wine

18 9 2009

The celebration of wine harvest comes to Moravia with first Burčák (young, slightly fermented wine). The wine harvest of Pálava is one of the most famous ones. The people of Mikulov celebrate their rich harvest from their vineyards, the arrival of autumn but also the 600 year-old-tradition.

People had their first celebration in the square as far back as in 1403 when the lord of Mikulov, John of Lichtenstein, liberated the Czech king Wenceslas IV, the son of king Charles IV from his captivity in Vienna. The arrival of the king was then boisterously celebrated. And it is still celebrated today. The wine harvest of Pálava stands for three days of Burčák, wine, singing and happy crowds.

Autor: Michaela Cibulková

Tagy: Lednice, Lichtensteins, Traditions, Valtice, Vintage, Wine tasting

Feel the atmosphere of a real Moravian “zabijačka”

Rubrika: Tourism

12 9 2009

The god of gluttony Bakchus watches over Moravian traditions. The European Union was going to make this tradition illegal, but those who worship unhealthy eating habits won. What does “zabijačka” in Moravia look like today? Same as it has been for the past centuries. On a cold drizzly morning, usually in December, the butcher and his helpers get the pig ready for its last journey. A quick death, then stirring the blood with a bit of vinegar to stop it coagulating; cleaning, scraping and burning off bristles; the brain with eggs for breakfast. Heart, liver and head are boiled in a cauldron. Cutlets and ham are left to cool down. Cooked meat and offal are processed to make special sausages (jitrnice), haggis and aspic. Mixed with blood, blood sausages or black pudding are made. Lard is fried to make pork scratchings. What a delicacy! Still warm, with a pinch of salt and some home made schnapps.

Autor: Svatava Rudolfová

Tagy: Lednice, Lichtensteins, Traditions, Zabijačka

From Břeclav onwards to Lichtensteins by bike, boat or on foot

Rubrika: Culture|Cycling|Tourism

1 9 2009

All those who travel to Moravia should not miss out on a visit to Břeclav, the entrance gate to Lednice-Valtice Area (LVA). Astonishingly, this park covers an area of 200 km2, so no wonder it has been listed in the UNESCO world heritage fund. Primary information about LVA can be obtained from the Lichtenstein house in the centre of the town.

The Lichtensteins were at the beginning of LVA for they loved mystery and ancient Greek mythology. Many structures built within this area were consecrated to ancient gods. As available sources tell us, they believed that man would become a better being by discovering something beautiful within nature.