*Lednice, Janův hrad and the Three Graces: a circular tour from Břeclav – 22 km*

Lednice, Janův hrad and the Three Graces: a circular tour from Břeclav – 22 km

The Liechtenstein noble family acquired the territory around Lednice and Mikulov in the 13th century and maintained control of the area for seven centuries until 1939, when their properties were confiscated by the Nazi regime. Today, the remarkable 19th century UNESCO listed monuments, follies and extensive park areas in the Valtice-Lednice Cultural Landscape are owned by the Czech state and are one of the most visited attractions in the country.
There are many walking routes around the territory and this guide features a number of alternative possibilities for exploring the area. This walk is a suggestion how to combine a visit to Lednice with a circular 20 km route around the eastern section of the Cultural Landscape, starting and finishing in Břeclav, which has good public transport options. For a shorter trip focusing only on Lednice, see the separate Lednice park and gardens walk.
The longer route on this page starts by passing the unusual ruins of Břeclav castle. The site has had a fortress at least from the 11th century, but the current form is primarily Renaissance, which has been ‘romanticized’ by the Liechtensteins in the early 19th century.
After Břeclav castle, the route traverses the forests and floodplains of the river Dyje, which is an attractive flat protected nature reserve and then reaches the remarkable ‘folly’, Janův hrad (John’s castle). This imitation of a partly ruined medieval castle, enclosed on three sides by the river, was constructed by a member of the Liechtenstein family at the beginning of the 19th century. It is not a true ruin as it was used as a hunting lodge and for feasts by the family and all four towers had functioning rooms. There are paid tours around the castle during the tourist season.
From Janův hrad, the suggested route touches the edge of the Lednice park area, with views towards the unique minaret, before arriving at Lednice chateau itself. The chateau is the jewel in the crown of this extraordinary area. The magnificent neo-Gothic chateau was created in the mid 19th century as the Liechtenstein summer palace, on the foundations of an originally medieval Gothic fortress, which later became a Baroque palace.
From Lednice the route crosses the largest of the picturesque fishpond complexes, first created by the Liechtensteins in 15th century. The trail passes the Empire style statek Nový dvůr, which was built at the beginning of the 19th century as a model farming complex to reach the neoclassical Three Graces monument, which is a striking curved covered collonade, with a famous statue of the Graces in the foreground. The final monument on the tour is the quaint St Hubertus Chapel, which is sited beside the forest trail leading back to Břeclav.
The route which is mostly on flat terrain is on good paths, which could be navigable with a stroller, but it is a relatively long route at 22.3 km. There are several refreshment options on the route, but the best of these are probably in Lednice, directly outside the chateau complex. One of the most popular and definitely recommended is Pedro’s Foodtruck, a trailer parked in the castle square serving gourmet fast food. The chateau cukrána, near the main entrance, serves excellent ice cream and has a nice terrace.

Directions

Břeclav has good public transport options, including a mainline train station with direct connections to Prague. There are several parking areas around town. If driving try to park as close to Břeclav castle as possible
A good landmark in Břeclav as a potential starting/finishing point for the walk is the modern church of Saint Wenceslaus, with its very striking spire, located on náměstí T. G. Masaryka (there is a good café on the corner of the square the Hostina, which might offer pre/post walk refreshment)
From the square, take the GREEN hiking trail signposted towards Lednice
After 500m pass the castle and continue on the GREEN trail through the Dyje nature reserve for 6.7 km to reach the U Janova hradu trail junction
At U Janova hradu, take the GREEN trail diversion towards Janův hrad, crossing the river and reaching the castle in 200m
After visiting the castle, return back to the GREEN trail and follow this trail through the chateau park area, to reach the chateau itself after 2.6 km
Take as much time as desired to explore the chateau and park area, take refreshments in one of several options directly at or near the chateau and then join the RED trail at Zámecké náměstí in the direction of Lednice train station
Follow this trail past the train station, then to the pond complexes, past the statek Nový dvůr to reach the Three Graces monument 3.9 km after leaving Lednice center
From the Three Graces, stay on the RED trail as far as St Hubertus chapel, which is reached after 1.9 km
Just after the chapel, at the trail junction, join the YELLOW trail in the direction of Břeclav. This trail returns back to the starting point at náměstí T. G. Masaryka after 6.3 km