Židlochovice circuit on a bike

Cycling along the monastery route to Židlochovice (23.4 km)

Are you coming from Brno? Take tram No. 2 to Modřice to the terminus or take the train from Brno main train station to Modřice station on line S3. In Modřice, get on your bikes and ride to Rajhrad to the Benedictine monastery. 

Monastery, the mecca of literature

You can spend hours in the beautiful Baroque complex of the Rajhrad monastery designed by the renowned architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel and not get bored. The area with today's park landscaping is gradually awakening from a long purgatory when it was decimated by armies of all kinds. In the Middle Ages, monasteries used to be popular targets of war looting and Rajhrad enjoyed it to the limit. From the Mongol invasions to the army's stay under communism. That is why it is almost a miracle that ancient manuscripts, the precious foundation of the local library, have survived to this day. There are 65.000 volumes!

A profound experience not only for bookworms

Visit the Monastery Museum of Literature in Moravia! The historic library will make you feel so small... and the decoration... like in the Vatican. The original Romanesque and Gothic design was rewritten by the aforementioned Santini-Aichel in a magnificent Baroque reconstruction. Vaulted ceilings with frescoed ceilings, stucco decorations here and there, gold was not  spared. Plus, oddities like a giant mechanical globe.

The memorial is an exposition of literature written in Moravia - From the earliest manuscripts from the end of the 9th century to modern giants like T. G. M. or Kundera... And you can also listen to Old Slavonic - The language essential for today's modern Czech language here.

In the museum you will find many unexpected treasures. Such as the correspondence of the painting magician Alphons Mucha, who comes from the Moravian town of Ivančice. The extensive correspondence stored here in Rajhrad proves that he did not forget his birthplace even in the times of his greatest fame and liked to visit.

But back to today's trip. After the cultural experience, you may be hungry. Stop by the U Kašny restaurant (just off the underpass under the railway line at Městečko). The surprising menu and high performance earned the owners inclusion in the prestigious Gourmet jižní Morava 2019 list.

Do you prefer beer or wine?

From Rajhrad continue to Blučina to the Litava (Cézava) river. Would you like to visit the wine shop of local wines at the florist shop or taste beers from the local brewery Xaver? Cross the bridge into the centre. Sportsmen bored with the plain can climb from here to the Výhon lookout tower above Židlochovice. Continue to the centre of Židlochovice and the local information centre with a wine shop. Don't be afraid of boring leaflets. They have a certified wine shop of local wines and also Fenz's Fertile from Židlochovice apricot crop from the famous local orchards. 

You can end your trip here and get on the S3 line to Brno at the Židlochovice train station. Oh, are you feeling energetic? Extend your trip by the Židlochovice circuit! 

Židlochovice circuit by bike (+ 20.9 km)

This region is a little bit forgotten. No big hills, no big attractions, no crowds. But that's the point. The cooing - Frayed nerves calm down with every kilometre. It's a cycling meditation!  Cross the Svratka river westwards to Hrušovany. After the track, go down past the water ponds Šejba and Šimlochy to the village of Ledce. Continue through Sobotovice and Bratčice, on the way you will see a water tower with a lookout tower. 

Bratčice lookout tower

Cinderella of the lookout towers, that's what the locals call her. You won't read about it on the internet, or even on the municipality's website, and there is no sign with an arrow pointing to it. Only a couple of bicycle racks will alert you of its existence. A brick water tower and a tourist lookout tower in one will show you the Pálava landscape and the White Carpathians. The lookout tower did not have a grand opening with champagne. The workers simply left one day, the building was approved and now you can look around the region. No crowds, no stress, all in the relaxed fashion of the Židlochovice trip. 

And to make it not all about wine, visit the castle brewery Zámecký pivovar in Bratčice. (At the main crossroads, turn left towards Němčičky, and after the tour, return to Bratčice.) Continue to Syrovice via bike path 5172, 404 and in the centre of the village turn left towards Ořechov. After about 400 metres before the car service buildings, turn right onto the asphalt dirt road onto the Brněnská bike path. It will take you all the way to Rajhrad.

And how to get back? 

By train from Rajhrad on line S3!

Where to satisfy hunger and thirst on the Rajhrad trip

If you are hungry, go to the U Kašny restaurant in Rajhrad (just off the underpass under the railway line in Městečko). The surprising offer and high performance of the owners have earned them inclusion in the prestigious list of Gourmet jižní Morava 2019.

In Židlochovice, the Za Komínem restaurant will sastisfy the great hunger. It is easy to recognize - By the chimney, a short distance from the river. And since you are in the region of the famous literary figure Maryša, you might go to the Maryša restaurant. 

Thirst is satisfied with wine in this region. Refreshment is waiting for you in Blučina at the Malé domácí vinařství winery. Wines from the iconic Výhon hill are offered by the wine shop of Mr. Št'astný in the florist shop on Měnínská street or by the winery of Mr. Hanuš. Beer drinkers, you don't want to miss the opportunity to taste samples at Blučina's Xaver Brewery. 

Wine drinkers can continue to the Židlochovice Infocentre with a wine shop selling local wines (and apricot gifts) or the Vinařství Válka bio winery in Nosislav. 

Extra tip for Výhon lookout tower

We just have to write about this romantic spot. The Židlochovice Tourist Information Centre shows the region with real passion. They come up with all sorts of goodies and in June they organise a breakfast at the lookout tower. Participants wait at the lookout tower for the sunrise, fresh pastries with apricot jam (of course, from apricots from local orchards) are served, and pidlikáči, as musicians are called in our region of Brno, play. Well, simply put: extremely romantic. Are you interested? Ask about the event directly at the Židlochovice Tourist Information Centre.