Czech Republic & Austria Bicycle Tour Itinerary
Day One: Prague - Lednice-Valtice Loop
Our guides will greet you in Prague, where you will meet your fellow travelers and then be transfered to the south of Moravia. After a welcome drink, bike fitting and safety talk on the chateau terrace of our hotel Hranicni Zamecek, we’ll set off to explore the unique Lednice-Valtice - a UNESCO Cultural Landscape.
After 700 years under the care of Lichtenstein noblemen, the swampy area was transformed into a carefully conceived combination of castles and parks which combines both indigenous and exotic natural elements to create an outstanding work of human creativity.
Bicycling is the preferred mode of transportation through this grand expanse since it allows easy access to this exceptional location. The highlight of our day will be the Valtice Chateau, an imposing building with beautiful interiors. This fascinating structure also conceals a wine cellar overflowing with the best wines of the Czech Republic. You will have the opportunity to sample wines from this imposing collection during a wine tasting here at Valtice.
Meal: Dinner
Destinations visited: Prague, Lednice-Valtice cellars
Distance cycled: 23 km / 14.25 miles
Day Two: Valtice-Mikulov Via Iron Curtain Road
Today we will continue our explorations of this exceptional UNESCO area. At Lichtenstein’s “summer house,” the Lednice Chateau, we will find out why this area is called “The Garden of Europe” or “The Garden Paradise.” This English neogothic chateau contains French gardens, a romantic minaret and the ruins of Jans Castle. As you meander through the property, you will feel as if transported back to the 19th century. Here you will also find an extraordinary 800 year old castle wine cellar in the “Valtice underworld” where you will be treated to a wine tasting. As a farewell to the Lednice-Valtice region you will be treated to a romantic picnic lunch on the Promenade with wonderful views over this fairytale countryside!
We will leave the chateau on bike and commence our ride along the former Iron Curtain Road to lovely Mikulov, a hidden gem of a town located amidst the Palaya Hills. While biking through this wonderful landscape it is hard to believe that less than 20 years ago this area was a “no man’s land,” a virtual dead zone.We will end our day at the unique Hotel Templ, a former synagogue that was deserted during the dramatic days of WW II. If you look carefully, you will find many details of its former use.
We will have dinner tonight at the very special Eat and Art Gallery, a unique place where you will eat with all your senses! Tonight will also be your first introduction to the Czech national beverage - beer. While sampling one of many local brands, you will have to agree with what every Czech already knows - that Czech beer is best in the world!
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations visited: Lednice Chateau, Jans Castle, Oldest Synagogue and Cemetery in Mikulov
Distance cycled: 50 km / 31 miles
Day Three: Mikulov Vineyard Loop
We will start our day with a visit to old Jewish cemetery, a rare Polish synagogue and the second biggest European wine cask in the heart of Mikulov castle. We will then bike Palava’s UNESCO Biosphere Reservation.
This small “Czech Mediterranea” or “Czech Provence” offers a varied landscape to cycle through – including vineyards, karst rock formations, and Old World villages rich in folklore. We continue on to Pavlov, a small village with Baroque architecture, where we will stop for wine tasting at one of the local wineries that represents the modern trends of local wine producers. Leaving Pavlov, we will visit the village of Dolni Vestonice which is known for the rare archaeological discovery of a small, 23,000-year-old female statue.
Tonight’s dinner will be in the formal synagogue room accompanied by a wine tasting in the cellar where the ritual mikva bath was held.
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
Destinations visited: Dolni Vestonice, Pavlov, Mikulov wine museum
Distance cycled: 50 km / 31 miles
Day Four: Mikulov – Laa an der Thaya
Today we follow the Veltliner Bike Path into Austria, the route named for the region’s most famous wine cultivar. It will take us through slightly hilly terrain as we climb to the Falkenstein Castle ruin, which is the dominant landmark of the region. As a reward for this climb, we will have a wine tasting and picnic lunch in the village of the same name. The vineyard-lined Veltliner route is the most beautiful byway in this area and it leads us all the way to Poysdorf, the Austrian capital of wine. Along the way, we may stop in Herrnbaumgarten Village, famous for its poetic museum of non-senses. You’ll appreciate the high quality of Austrian wines during sampling in Poysdorf’s local wine market. After passing the Staatz Castle ruins, we arrive in the spa town of Laa an der Thaya. Here we admire the two town halls, the remains of a castle and, most importantly, have some fun swimming and relaxing in our special hotel, Therme Laa.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations visited: Veltlinska Bike Path, Falkenstein Castle ruins, Poysdorf, Herrnbaumgarten Village,
Staatz Castle ruins
Distance cycled: 59 km / 37 miles
Day Five: Austria Loop - Spa Day
Today it is your choice to either indulge yourself in the optional spa amenities and services at the Therme Laa water world, or pedal your way into the rich mosaic of the Czech-Austrian border wine region. If choose to ride, we will begin in Šatov with a visit to a unique painted wine cellar, well-preserved fortifications from World War II, and other curiosities. After a local wine sampling, we will bike through an old Celtic sanctuary to Retz. In this old wine town, lorded over by its famed white windmill, we will have a chance to admire not only its interesting main square, but the 20 km-long labyrinth of wine cellars, which hold five million liters of this elixir! Afterwards you will bike through the village of Hadres, where we visit the most beautiful wine street of the entire region, 1.6 km long and lined with 400 cellars.
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
Destinations visited: Šatov, Retz, Hadres, or Spa day
Distance cycled: 62 km / 38 miles
Day Six: Vienna
In the morning you will be transferred by car to the city of opera, apfelstrudel, known also for the famous Viennese waltz. The capital city of Austria will be our final destination of our journey. We strongly recommend you extend your stay in Vienna by at least one day, because the UNESCO protected city center, the Schönbrunn Castle and many other sights are too beautiful and unique to be missed. We can arrange accommodations and tour guiding services for you, as well as possible transport back to Prague.
Meal: Breakfast
Destinations visited: Vienna
Distance cycled: optional loop in morning to castle ruin Statz
Accomplished: Total Satisfaction!
TRIP TOTAL: 244 km / 152 miles, averaging 49 km / 30 miles per day.
Optional longer rides available each day.
