Podyjí National Park

Alongside the diverse hiking areas of Czechia, there are other scenic natural spots in the country. These include, for example, Bohemian Forest National Park and Podyjí National Park, which bring you closer to the distinctive features of Czech nature. Podyjí National Park is, at 63 square kilometres, the country's smallest national park, yet it is just as significant as other protected areas. Here you can admire pristine river valleys and unwind in densely forested areas. The national park impresses with its idyllic atmosphere and invites you to enjoy relaxing experiences in nature.

Podyjí National Park: the key facts

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The national park is located on the border with Austria in southern Czechia and is therefore easily accessible from Brno or Vienna. The city of Brno is only about 70 km from the national park. This means you can reach the park by car within around an hour, making it easy to combine a city trip to Brno with a day trip into nature. Vienna is a bit further away, but from there too you'll only need around an hour and a half to reach Czechia's smallest national park. If you'd like to spend several days in nature, the town of Znojmo makes a particularly good starting point. It is located right on the edge of the national park. In addition, Podyjí National Park merges seamlessly into Thayatal National Park. Together, the two protected areas form the UNESCO Podyjí–Thayatal Biosphere Reserve.

Due to the region's wartime history, the nature along the border remained largely untouched for a long time and was left to its own devices. As a result, you can still admire the area's original beauty today. Podyjí National Park is particularly well known for its species-rich dry grasslands and vineyard slopes. The Dyje River flows idyllically through the landscape, shaping the riverbanks with rocks, vineyards and blooming meadows. Discover diverse flower meadows and orchards – a place perfectly suited to peaceful, romantic walks.

An inviting natural landscape

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When visiting the national park, you'll be impressed by the variety of butterflies and orchids. The mild climate, plenty of sunshine hours and the park's high level of protection create ideal conditions for numerous animal and plant species. While exploring, you can follow the signposted hiking trails and spot rare butterflies along the way. These can be observed particularly well on the Havranické Heath (Havranické vřesoviště). Also remarkable are the green lizards found on the Kaidanovská Heath (Kaidanovská step). If you experience nature not just during the day but also in the evening, with a bit of luck you might hear the wingbeats of bats. These live, among other places, near the ruins of Nový Hrádek Castle (Neuhäusl). The ruins, however, are worth seeing not only at night but also during the day. They lie right in the middle of the Dyje Valley and offer an impressive view over the national park.

You should also not miss the blooming pasque flowers along the Hájský potok stream. This plant genus grows only in certain locations, such as nutrient-poor, dry meadows or open woodlands. In Central Europe it is considered rare and highly endangered, which is why it is also under strict nature protection in Czechia. Pasque flowers bloom in spring (from late March to May), and during this time they can also be admired in the national park. Besides rare plants, with a bit of luck you might also spot rare animal species such as the black stork or the rock bunting. The rock bunting (Emberiza cia) is a rare songbird species that in Czechia occurs almost exclusively in this region. This makes the national park especially appealing to birdwatchers.

A wine-growing region in nature

It's not only the nature in this region that is exceptional, but also the wine-growing areas. First-class European vineyards are found not only in the Rhine and Rhône valleys, but also in the Dyje Valley. This valley is part of Podyjí National Park and is known for its high-quality wines. Visit the Šobes vineyard, which, thanks to its sunny, sheltered south-facing slope, is said to rank among the ten best wine-growing regions in Europe. You can also get to know the valley more closely via various educational trails. Besides hiking, climbing is another great option: climb Raven Rock (Vraní skála) and experience the national park from a new perspective. In the warm summer months, cycling is also a great way to explore the nature and follow the signposted cycling routes. Finally, a tasting of the regional white wines is well worth it.

Best time to visit

Depending on what you'd like to focus on during your visit, the ideal time to visit Podyjí National Park varies. If you're interested in rare plants and would particularly like to see orchids or pasque flowers in bloom, a visit in spring is recommended. If you'd like to explore the vineyards and enjoy butterflies, summer is especially suitable. Autumn impresses with colourful forests along the educational trails. In winter, on the other hand, you can observe birds and enjoy the park's special sense of tranquillity.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant trip!

Regardless of the season, Podyjí National Park offers tranquillity, variety and an unforgettable experience in nature. We wish you a pleasant trip to Czechia and lots of enjoyment on your exploration tour of Podyjí National Park. Please remember to find out about Czechia's toll regulations in advance. You can find information on the toll in our guide. You're also welcome to use our route planner to help plan your trip and display the right toll products for you. If you have any questions, we're happy to help. Please contact us by email.