Some still call it Czechoslovakia, some prefer Czechia but for us, our home land is the Czech Republic. In launching this new Kudu tour, we want to introduce our guests to the country which gave birth to Janáček, Smetana, Dvořák, Martinů - and Mahler! We aim to visit birthplaces and walk in the countryside that inspired these great musicians.
After landing in Vienna, a brief drive will cross the formality-free border into the Czech Republic where we spend two nights in the heart of Liechtenstein architecture with chateaux, towering churches, follies, castles, a UNESCO heritage Riding Hall - and a minaret!
Next, we venture into the ‘other half’ of the Czech Republic, Bohemia, where we stay in the extensive square of Litomyšl, the birthplace of Bedřich Smetana, famous for the “Battered” Bride and the Kiss. His father was the local brewery master in a castle which showcases the art of Renaissance sgraffito decoration and features an arcaded internal courtyard.
We visit a museum dedicated to Bohuslav Martinů in Polička, founded in 1265 and surrounded by massive, fortified walls originally erected in the 14th century. Martinů, who produced almost 400 pieces, was born in the tower of St. Jakub church where his father, the local shoemaker and church sexton, was allowed to live.
We continue to Olomouc, the former co-capital of Moravia, the other half, with Bohemia, of our Czech Republic and Ostrava, the industrial heartland of the Austro-Hapsburg Empire where Dvořák has an opera house named after him and situated above a former coal mine.
The next stop is Janáček’s birthplace where a charming museum displays early pictures of this operatic composer before we spend one night in his favourite spa town where he indulged his obsession for one particular member of the fairer sex.
We end in Brno, the Republic’s second city and home to the Janáček festival, where our centrally based hotel overlooks the vegetable market square and is ideal for an exploration of this capital of Moravia (yes, another one) with its baroque citadel, Gothic cathedral exterior and many fine modernist houses.
HIGHLIGHTS of our Czech walking tour include:
We meet at Vienna airport in the afternoon and have an hour’s transfer to our hotel in the Czech border town of Mikulov. Before our aperitif of local wine, we walk through the historic centre, seeing the 16th century Jewish cemetery and Synagogue, the fine square with Renaissance houses and the imposing Baroque castle set on a central hill.
Today, we walk in the UNESCO listed Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, encompassing the Neo-Gothic Lednice chateau, the Baroque Valtice chateau and follies scattered throughout 14,000 hectares of landscaped gardens and parks of the former estate of the Liechtenstein family who, by adroit diplomacy and religious flexibility, were able to be a dominant force in the Holy Roman Empire for five centuries.
This morning we walk in the Pálava Protected Landscape Area, a limestone massif with relict steppe flora and views stretching over the surrounding open plain. A modern archaeological museum in Pavlov displays findings from the local Neolithic mammoth hunters’ settlement. A 2-hour road transfers brings us to Litomyšl, our home for 3 nights.
Litomyšl is a treasure trove of architectural delights. From the extensive central square lined with Renaissance and Baroque houses, we walk through the Monastery Gardens adorned with contemporary sculptures to the Chateau noted for its sgrafitto-covered exterior. In the afternoon, we walk in the surrounding countryside, from where Smetana, born in Litomyšl, took his inspiration for “Má Vlast” which became the unofficial anthem of the yet to be founded country.
A short distance south is Polička, the hometown of Bohuslav Martinů. We visit the informative museum which tracks the composer’s journey from child violinist to Paris jazz composer and on to his flight in 1941 to America, where his works were performed by all the major orchestras. Our afternoon features a walk in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.
An hour’s cross-country drive takes us to Olomouc, the historic co-capital of Moravia. On our walking tour we discover the Gothic Cathedral of St. Wenceslas, the Baroque Archbishop Palace, the formal gardens of the University, the Renaissance Town hall and the Astronomical Clock erected in Social Realist style.
Our next destination is Ostrava, formerly the most important industrial town in the country with coal mines and steelworks. After lunch in an elegant café built in the First Republic era, we walk through the city centre taking in two historic theatres and the Old and New Townhall. An hour’s drive away is the mountainous region of Moravian Wallachia, where we stay for two nights in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm.
This morning we visit the Leoš Janáček Memorial in Janáček’s home village of Hukvaldy and walk in the composer’s footsteps to the ruined mediaeval castle on a hill above the village. In the afternoon, we walk in the Beskydy mountains, starting from Pustevny, a small mountain resort with wooden buildings built at the end of 19th century in the Folk Art Nouveau style by renowned architect, Dušan Jurkovič.
Our morning walk takes us through a replica Wallachian village open air museum, created from genuine historic wooden buildings relocated from their original sites throughout the region. By lunchtime we are in Luhačovice, an attractive spa town with a mineral spring known as Vincentka. We wonder along the central promenade lined with spa houses and pavilions, mostly built at the turn of the 19th and 20th century.
The Battle of Austerlitz also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of Napoleon’s greatest tactical triumphs. We pause at the Cairn of Peace honouring the victims of this 1805 battle outside Slavkov, as Austerlitz is known in Czech. Arriving in Brno, we settle into our stylish hotel on the central market square.
DAY 11
B, D included
We start sightseeing as soon as we step out of the hotel. In the centre of the square is the Baroque Parnassus Fountain richly decorated with mythical figures. On our left we see the Reduta, the oldest theatre building in Central Europe, in which Mozart performed as an 11-year-old. We continue to the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, the dominant feature of Brno skyline, and to the next hill with the Špilberk Castle and Citadel.
On our final evening together, we will attend a performance of classical music or opera. The details will be advised once the appropriate programmes are published.
Visiting Villa Tugendhat is a must for anyone with interest in modern architecture. We have a guided tour of this innovative family home and garden, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich in 1928 – 1930.
In the afternoon, an airport transfer concludes our journey.
Trip Price, per person sharing:
£3,320.75 until 2nd December 2024
£3,410.50 until 2nd March 2025
£3,500.25 until 2nd June 2025
£3,590 after 2nd June 2025
https://www.kudutravel.com/faq#discounts
Please note that the single room supplement is imposed by the hotels and not by Kudu Travel. If you are willing to share, but no other suitable guest books on the trip, we regret that the supplement will be payable. We shall endeavour to obtain double rooms for single occupancy whenever possible.
VALUE FOR MONEY - SO MUCH IS INCLUDED
On Kudu trips, you will only need money for postcards, presents to take home, the odd G & T or an irresistible ice cream. Festival and opera tickets, museum and gallery entrances, National Park fees, all meals (with a very few exceptions specified in individual itineraries), wine with lunch and dinner, access to specialist books carried by the guides, gratuities for porters and hotel and restaurant staff, boat rides, train trips, internal flights, wine tastings, 4WDs with drivers, the services of skilled local guides and trackers etc are ALL INCLUDED in the cost of your holiday.
We are confident that, like previous very satisfied guests, you will discover that our tours give you excellent value for money.
2 nights in Mikulov ∙ 3 nights in Litomyšl ∙ 1 night in Olomouc ∙ 2 nights in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm ∙ 1 night in Luhačovice ∙ 2 nights in Brno – all in 4 star hotels
Visitors from the UK, EU, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to Austria and the Czech Republic. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest Embassies of Austria and the Czech Republic.
Normally there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to Austria and the Czech Republic. You may wish to check the advice given to travellers by the Department of Health and the FCO.
Insurance
It is essential, and a condition of booking, that you protect yourself with a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book a trip. We can arrange comprehensive cover for UK residents. Follow this link for a quote for a policy available to UK residents.
If you are already insured or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.
Size of Party
This trip will run with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 14 guests.
