Lednice–Valtice area
Lednice and Valtice regions
(recorded on the UNESCO list in 1996)
The Lednice–Valtice area is recorded on the list of cultural heritage under the slogan “cultural landscape” as an example of the symbiosis and coexistence of man and nature. It is an area covering nearly 300 km2, situated on the border between Moravia and Lower Austria. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the ruling Liechtenstein family turned the region into a large nature park. Besides other historical sites, this park includes two large chateaus in Lednice and Valtice, as well as a number of smaller historical buildings, the Lednické ponds, a minaret in the Lednice chateau park, the Temple of Apollo, Jan’s castle, a hunting chateau and many other attractions. The garden in Lednice cannot cover the fact that its founders were inspired by Versailles in France.
Lednice and Valtice regions
(recorded on the UNESCO list in 1996)
The Lednice–Valtice area is recorded on the list of cultural heritage under the slogan “cultural landscape” as an example of the symbiosis and coexistence of man and nature. It is an area covering nearly 300 km2, situated on the border between Moravia and Lower Austria. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the ruling Liechtenstein family turned the region into a large nature park. Besides other historical sites, this park includes two large chateaus in Lednice and Valtice, as well as a number of smaller historical buildings, the Lednické ponds, a minaret in the Lednice chateau park, the Temple of Apollo, Jan’s castle, a hunting chateau and many other attractions. The garden in Lednice cannot cover the fact that its founders were inspired by Versailles in France. Perhaps the most significant landmark in this area is the neo-Gothic castle in Lednice, built in the mid-19thcentury by the Liechtenstein family as their summer residence. The castle is open to visitors. Tours go through the ground and first floor and on the second floor visitors can admire a beautiful picture gallery.
The spectacular and monumental chateau in Valtice was created thanks to gradual modifications and alterations to the original castle, built in the 12th century. A wine tasting exhibition called Czech Wines Salon is held in the chateau’s extensive cellars and is accessible all year round. The oldest building built in the Romanticism style in the region is the 60-metre high minaret. To reach the highest of its three galleries, you have to climb up a spiral stone staircase, which consists of 302 steps. When visibility is good, you can see the tower of the Church of St. Stephen’s in Vienna.
Did you know that…
The Lednice-Valtice region covers 283.09 square kilometres and is regarded as the largest artificially created territory in Europe. That is why this region is often called the “Garden of Europe”. The 60 metre tall minaret in Lednice is the tallest building of this typein a non-Islamic country.
Reistna
A romantic building with an observation gallery and colonnade built in the Classicist style, the highest point in the Lednice-Valtice region.
www.lva.cz
GPS: 48°44‘13.641“N, 16°44‘11.030“E
John’s Castle (Janohrad)
Artificially constructed romantic castle ruins from 1801. A building which used to serve as a hunting lodge is surrounded on three sides by the river Thaya. The ruins can be reached by boats or a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. The building was designed by Joseph Hardmuth, author of the local minaret.
www.lva.cz
GPS: 48°48‘16.390“N, 16°49‘57.327“E
Tři Grácie (Three Graces)
One of the most beautiful buildings in the Lednice-Valtice premises is located about 5 km from Valtice, in the vicinity of the Prostredni pond. It is based on a Classicist colonnade of a horseshoe layout by Jan Karl Engel. In its niches are allegorical statues of Arts and Sciences. The temple got its name from the statuary of the triad of ancient goddesses Athena, Aphrodite and Artemis by the Viennese Neo-classicist sculptor Martin Fischer (1740–1820). The statuary was originally in the castle gardens in Lednice.
www.lva.cz
GPS: 48°46‘30.215“N, 16°47‘48.873“E
