The Přemyslid family was governing and developing this South Moravian city for dozens of years, when, at the beginning of the 13th century, the Czech king Přemysl Otakar I. declared Znojmo a royal city. The unique buildings from that era are still standing and their visitors are enjoying the magnificent views for centuries.
The Wolf Tower
The fortification of the town began to be built under the rule of the famous Přemysl Otakar II. A large part of these walls, including the towers, have survived. One of them is the Wolf Tower in Kollárova Street. It was built in the mid-13th century and the builders, so worried about the safety of the city, created it in a way that the top of the tower is accessible only from the wall gallery.
Today, the walls and towers not used for their original purpose, but they continue to serve the city – they allow citizens and tourists to enjoy beautiful views of Znojmo and nature around it. The Wolf Tower offers views of all sides, especially the city center. Arrows on the viewpoint will tell you which notable site is in which direction, and you can make the visit to the 22-meter tall tower even more enjoyable with a glass of wine.
The Ducal Rotunda of Virgin Mary and Saint Catherine
In the shadow of the Znojmo Castle is hidden a one-of-a-kind Romanesque monument. The uniqueness of the Rotunda of the Virgin Mary and St. Catherine lies in the interior. It’s decorated with beautiful murals showing scenes from the Bible, and a section of a wall is dedicated to portraits of unknown people, thought to be the members of the Přemyslid dynasty.
Even the rotunda offers beautiful views of the city and the river. Of course, the Znojmo Castle is also well worth visiting.
The Town Hall Tower
The late Middle Age architects and builders gave Znojmo its most distinctive construction - its Town Hall Tower. The nearly seventy-meter tall slender tower is a monument not only to the importance of the city in that time but also to the mastery of its creators, most notably the stonemason Nicholas of Sedlešovice.
The exterior gallery offers a beautiful view: if visitors are lucky and the weather is good, they can even see the peaks of the Alps!