Other Heritage Sites And Places Of Interest

Čížov, which lies some 9 km from Nový Hrádek, is a small village with partially preserved original rustic architecture and a baroque chapel of the Grieving Virgin Mary from 1756. At the edge of the village, visitor centre of the Podyjí National Park is situated with a permanent exhibition on the nature in the park, and an information office. Close to the visitor centre, part of the border wire obstacles – part of the ‘iron curtain’ – can still be seen. Čížov is an ideal starting point for entering both the national parks – Moravian Podyjí, and Austrian Thayatal. More info on www.nppodyji.cz. Contact info@nppodyji.cz.www.nppodyji.cz . Contact info@nppodyji.cz .

Hardegg,situated at the confluence of the river Thaya and the Fugnitz brook lies about 12 km from Nový Hrádek, and is the smallest town of Austria with less than one hundred permanent inhabitants. The townlet with its parish church of St. Vitus from the early 13th century is dominated by a castle built in the 12th and 13th centuries, and rebuilt in early 20th century. For several centuries this castle served to protect the old land boundary. After 1867 memorials to the executed Mexican emperor Maxmilian von Habsburg, brother of Franz Joseph I, were placed in the castle. A part of the exhibition consists of interesting collections of old Maya, Inca, and Aztec art. The castle is open daily in April, May, June, September, October, and in the first half of November from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and in July and August from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Hardegg is the starting point of tourist routes to the Thayatal National Park, and the park administration office is also situated there. A modern visitor centre can be found in the park office building. More info on www.hardegg.at

Kaja – medieval border castle on the Austrian side of Podyjí, situated in the first zone of the Thayatal National Park. Kaja lies approximately 2 km from Nový Hrádek as the bird flies, and about 17 km on the tourist path. The first mention of Kaja comes from the 11th century. It was severely damaged by the Hussite raids, but in the15th century it was reconstructed and reinforced again. At the beginning of the 17th century its aristocratic inhabitants abandoned the castle; it gradually fell into disrepair, and eventually turned into a ruin. It is open from May to October on Mondays, Sundays, and on holidays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, outside this time only upon previous telephone order. More info on www.retzer-land.co.at

Lukov – the village, in the area of which the ruin of Nový Hrádek is situated, used to be the centre of a small dominion and an important medieval townlet. It even had its own court, which is still commemorated by the original pillory dating back to 1609. Other interesting historic buildings include the baroque church of St. Giles from mid 18th century.

Vranov nad Dyjí – local village centre with rich history, many heritage buildings, and interesting nature, situated close to the dam lake built in the early 1930’s. More info on www.vranov-region.cz and also on www.ouvranov.cz.Vranov lies about 15 km from Nový Hrádek along the tourist route, and some 16 km on the road. It is dominated by a chateau perched high on a steep rock, which has partially preserved remains of a rampart system of the original medieval castle. The first mention of the castle dates from 1100, when it was owned by the country’s lords. Since the 14th century the castle changed hands between various aristocratic families; in late 17th and during the 18th century the Althanns rebuilt it into a splendid noble seat. Today, the chateau interiors, decorated with samples of the famous Vranov stoneware factory, document the culture of aristocratic living of late 18th and entire 19th century. The chateau is open in April and October on weekends only from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, in May, June, and September from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and in July and August from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. It is closed on Mondays. The chateau lies in the first zone of the Podyjí National Park and the administration office of the Nový Hrádek ruin is also situated there. More info on www.zamekvranov.cz. Contact vranov@brno.npu.cz .