Bike trip through Ždánice Forest Nature Park to the Parrot Zoo

For views of the Austerlitz battlefield

The route starts in Křenovice, which can be easily reached from Brno by train from the main train station by line S2 or S6 and you will arrive either at the Křenovice Horní or Dolní nádraží station. Your bike path runs close to both of them.

As soon as you leave Křenovice, you will immediately know that we are in the true Moravian countryside. The whole of Politaví is characterised by endless rolling meadows, which are only disturbed by the popular Ždánice Forest.

Bike path 5907 heads to Vážany nad Litavou, where the bright and informed observer may discover the remains of an old castle, but the village is not very interesting to the average tourist. Instead of looking for the castle, which no longer looks like a castle, you should therefore go further, this time off the marked bike path. The reward for the first climb will be the views of a large part of the famous battlefield near Slavkov with the typical silhouette of Pratecký Hill with the Cairn of Peace Memorial.
 

Bus stop and lookout tower in one

Another important point on the route is Nížkovice. As the name suggests, the village is situated in a small valley in the hillside of the Ždánice Forest. Its landmark is the Church of St. Kunhuta and if you are on a trip with children, you can take a stop at the small playground in the village square just opposite the pair of memorials to the victims of the First and Second World War.

From Nížkovice, you will again join the marked bike path no. 5099, which will lead you up a steep climb along the borders of the Ždánice Forest Nature Park to Kobeřice. Right at the beginning of the village there is an unusual bus stop which also serves as a lookout to the surrounding area.

If you want to enjoy a snack here in addition to the views, turn to the nearby chapel of the Virgin Mary with seating. From here, you can continue gracefully to another viewpoint nearby orchards and follow the dirt road to the Church of St. Jilja or just return to the bike path and go down the road to the village.
 

Through the rolling landscape to the Parrot Zoo

After Kobeřice, your route go down twice: first to the valley of the Milešovice stream and then to the village of Lovčičky. Stick to bike route 5099, which will guide you safely through this rather difficult section.

Important tip. Be aware that after rains, the field paths in this section may be difficult to pass. In that case, we recommend heading straight from Křenovice to Šaratice and Bošovice. Less fit cyclists will appreciate this shortcut as well.

In any case, all the effort will be rewarded by the experience of visiting the Parrot Zoo in Bošovice, which is the only zoo of its kind in Europe. More than 200 parrots from three continents of the world live here in more than 100 aviaries. The area is wheelchair accessible, with lots of greenery, fountains and a gazebo from where you can watch the birds and they can watch you. Set aside at least an hour for the whole stop and don't forget to grab a bite to eat at Café Kakadu.
 

Shady oasis called Ždánice Forest

Bošovice lies between two hills. There is a church on one of them and on the other there is an inaccessible former fortress in a state of disrepair. The steep climb to the ridge of Ždánice Forest is something to admire. After the exercise, you can take a short rest at the cross with a swing and a bench in the shade of a linden tree. The Těšanka forest path leading along the whole ridge of the Ždánice Forest will be your guide. In the section after the turn off the road you can still look into the distance, but gradually you will plunge into the shade of the forest.

Especially on hot days, this part of the route is literally a blessing. The narrow asphalt road passes under the forest canopy throughout the way, and the ride is pleasant thanks to the resting places at some of the crossroads, the Liechtenstein monument and small crosses hidden in the undergrowth. Anyone who drives from Slavkov to Kyjov knows well this poorly visible S-shaped section near the Red Cross. In these places, the Těšanka path crosses the main road no. 54 and you will be forced to walk a little way along the road. Caution is in order!
 

We're leaving the forest and heading for the animals

Not long after you return to the safety of the forest path, your route will begin its final descent. A long descent will take you out of the chilly surroundings of Ždánice Forest and through the rows of old chestnut trees lining the pastures you will reach the Jalový dvůr farm. The popular area offers playgrounds, a restaurant, a pond with poultry and lots of other domestic animals and livestock. For a quick snack or a proper lunch, you can either stop right here or continue on the deserted road for a few more kilometres to the Zelený statek farm with a more luxurious restaurant and another playground. Cattle graze peacefully in the surrounding carefully maintained pastures, and you can pet exotic alpaca llamas alongside goats and sheep. This picturesque corner of the countryside will make any visitor stop, dismount the bike and admire the scenery.
 

Extend your trip to the Renaissance castle in Bučovice

The last section of the route from Rašovice leads along a brand new bike path with several seating areas to the picturesque church in Křižanovice. At the train stop in Křižanovice you can end the whole trip, but if your strength allows it, there are only less than six kilometres of flat ground to go to the next highlight of the trip. It would be a shame to miss a visit to the Renaissance castle in Bučovice, as it boasts several unique features: A magnificent fountain in the courtyard, a large French park and extremely ornate interiors with masterful paintings.

If you have already been to Bučovice, you can also head from Křižanovice to the equally important castle in Slavkov.