Last Updated on 15/05/2024 by kami
In the very south of the Czech Republic, near Brno and the border with Austria and Slovakia, you can find a palace complex Lednice-Valtice. It’s a true gem and a real masterpiece, so valuable that it was granted the UNESCO World Heritage Site title in 1996.
If you are visiting this part of Central Europe be sure to stop in Lednice-Valtice too, even if for a short stroll around the park and to admire the palaces. This place truly doesn’t disappoint.
While I’ve been to Brno numerous times it was only during my last visit that I finally made it to Lednice-Valtice. I can certainly say those palaces live up to the expectations.
Even if I could see them only from the outside (the downside of traveling in the afternoon on the weekday) I was still in awe of their stunning architecture. And of course, now I want to return to Lednice-Valtice really badly to visit the palaces inside too and to have more time to enjoy their beautiful surroundings.
Where is Lednice-Valtice complex
The palace complex of Lednice-Valtice is located in the very southeast of the Czech Republic, right at the border with Austria. Brno, the second-largest Czech city is 50 km away and Vienna, the capital of Austria is 90 km away.
You can also visit Lednice-Valtice as a day trip from Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, which is also 90 km away.
Lednice-Valtice complex is located only a bit over 10 km away from Mikulov, a picturesque town full of monuments, so it’s a good idea to combine both places in one trip.
A brief history of Lednice-Valtice
The Lednice-Valtice complex actually consists of two properties: the Lednice palace and the Valtice chateau, located some 8 km apart. The whole complex is known as “the garden of Europe” and is the largest European park created by a man (283.09 square kilometers). It surely is impressive.
The complex is connected to the Liechtenstein family (one of the most powerful families in Europe at that time) who has been present in the area since the mid-13th century when they purchased the castle in Lednice (they’ve stayed here until World War 2).
In the 17th century, they’ve started the transformation process of their properties, the first step was to unite their properties in one and then to design a large park in the traditional English landscape style and the French-styled garden.
The Lednice palace originally dates back to the 13th century but it’s been rebuilt a renovated a few times. The stunning look of the place we can admire today comes from the 19th century when it was rebuilt for the last time, in the neogothic style with numerous small details making the place so unique. At that time it was one of the favorite places for the European noble families to spend their summer in.
The nearby Valtice chateau, a three-floors Baroque structure, was the seat of the Liechtenstein family. It was first mentioned in the 12th century, even before the Liechtenstein family arrived in the area, but the current look dates back to the 17th century when the chateau was rebuilt after the Thirty Years’ War.
In 1996 the Lednice-Valtice complex was awarded the title of the UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique mix of Baroque, Neoclassical, and neo-Gothic architecture, and its history as a cultural landscape designed intentionally by a single family.
How to get to Lednice-Valtice
The easiest way to visit both palaces, in Lednice and Valtice, is by car. The distance between both properties is around 8 km, with a fine road connecting the places. There is a parking lot near both palaces.
If you don’t have a car there is public transport available too.
You can easily reach Valtice by train, there are connections at least once an hour from Breclav (well-connected with Brno, Vienna, and Bratislava) that further continue to Mikulov and Znojmo. To reach Lednice you can take the bus from no 570 from Breclav of Mikulov.
There is a bus no 555 connecting Valtice with Lednice (it then continues to the train station in Podvin where you can catch a train to Brno) but it doesn’t run very frequently so it’s better to check the schedule before and plan your trip accordingly.
Or you can rent a bike and explore the area on two wheels. It’s a very popular way to get around in the Czech Republic and the bike infrastructure is really fine so this is definitely worth considering.
Visiting Lednice-Valtice
The whole Lednice-Valtice complex is really huge and full of attractions that will keep you busy for a few hours if you would like to see and enjoy them all.
In Lednice, besides the stunning palace (where you will need a minute to admire all its subtle details that adorn the exterior) you can wander around the large park and enjoy its peaceful atmosphere and all the beauty around. There are impressive flower beds, neatly planned and taken care of alleys or geometric hedges.
A bit further the premises changes its style into a bit wilder (yet still carefully planned one), a typical English kind of park. There are ponds, the aqueduct, artificial ruins, or even the minaret. The last one is especially interesting since it’s not very usual to find those in this part of Europe. It is said that the minaret was ordered to be built as Liechtenstein’s fascination with foreign cultures grow stronger.
In Valtice you can visit the chateau itself but if you are interested in wines you are in for a treat.
The Moravia region of the Czech Republic (where Lednice-Valtice is located) is an underrated wine region in Europe. There is no better place to learn about and try the locally-produced drinks than at Valtice chateau where the Wine Salon of the Czech Republic is located. You can also buy some local wines here.
The local gardens hide some wonders too, such as remnants of the Baroque theater or the herb garden. Just below the chateau, you should also stop by in the village’s main square with colorful townhouses and a beautiful Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
If you wish to visit the Lednice palace and the Valtice chateau inside it’s better to check the opening hours and buy the online tickets in advance. You can do that at the official websites of Lednice and Valtice properties.
Where to go next
Once you are done with visiting the Lednice-Valtice complex you can continue your trip to the other interesting places in the area.
The nearest one is Mikulov, a picturesque town full of attractions that you will surely fall for. Other places worth visiting include obviously Brno, Bratislava, Vienna, and further into the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovakia.
Further reading
I published many articles about the Czech Republic that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:
- 2 Days in Prague Itinerary
- Holesovice – a mini guide to Prague’s coolest district
- 17 Great Things to Do in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
- 13 Amazing Things to Do in Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Karlovy Vary Itinerary. What to Do in Karlovy Vary in 3 Days
- 20 Great Things to Do in Brno, Czech Republic
- What to See in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Visit Kromeriz, Czech Republic – the UNESCO Castle and More
- Visit Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic – the UNESCO spa town
- and more!
If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in Central Europe and ask your questions there.
Travel Resources
You can find the best accommodation options at Booking. They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in the Czech Republic
Never travel without travel insurance, you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for the Czech Republic here.
I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Get Your Guide – click here.
Make sure to have the offline map always installed on your phone, they can save you so many troubles. I always use the free app Maps.Me.
For the end I left a few announcements that might interest you:
- Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on Bloglovin to get updates about the new posts
- Join my Facebook group about Eastern Europe, the Balkans and former USSR and connect with fellow travellers and enthusiasts of these regions – just click here!
- I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to the Czech Republic too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!
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2 Comments
Valentin
06/03/2022 at 20:54Lednice and Valtice castles are very beautifull. I visited Lednice in pre-covid time, and Valtice during covid-time. In Lednice there were many tourists at castle tour. But when I visited Valtice in covid-time, it was strange, but joyfull tour of castle with only 4 tourists and a guide.
When visiting Lednice, there is a parking area with price 50 CZK per day and 10 minutes walk from castle. Or if you have money and no time, you can park next to castle but it is expensive.
Walking by the lake, you can visit artificial cave, minaret (recommending) and of course the castle.
I had vienna coffee in castle garden, something I often enjoy when visiting Czechia and Slovakia.
If you go to Valtice, you can find free parking in side streets 1 km from castle. Or park right in front of it if you don’t have time (paying parking). I recommend 3-4 hours for Valtice. There is not only a castle, but also a nice church.
For me, it is hard to tell which castle is more beautifull, Lednice or Valtice. Each one has its own charm.
Nearby there is a town Breclav with nice castle ruin.
kami
21/03/2022 at 10:37Thank you so much for this useful info, Valentin! I really appreciate it!