If you are not among the typical lazy beach loungers and prefer a more active rest, you could not choose a better place for your vacation than Podluží and Hodonínsko. These places offer unique experiences from walking and bicycle trips through the wine region and industry, to boating on the Morava river, to a trip through Baťa´s Floating Channel to even sightseeing by air.
Put off your worries and come enjoy yourself in Podluží and Hodonínsko. You can start for example with cycling. „But the whole country is interlaced by the cycling tracks,“ you might say. But where else are they linked to wine tourism in an area of unique wine cellars and the hospitality of local wine growers? After only a few delicious drinks in the cool cellar, a few meters under the ground level, you will suddenly forget about the hurried world full of worry and stress up there.
Put your bike on a boat deck and let the currents of the Morava and Dyje river carry you. Many recreational opportunities and pleasantly spent times await. Maybe in a rented houseboat. Would you like to swim, surf, go bowling or fi shing? No problem.
And after an active rest, of course again preferably with a glass of good wine, may be needed. What you, however, should defi nitely not miss, are the renowned local folk festivals. Have you ever seen actual May Pole raising? Come to the folk costume feast or the renowned ethnic festival called Podluží in songs and dances. Dance with couples in folk costumes under the May Pole and trust that this is a night your will never forget.. Well then, welcome to Podluží and Hodonín!
Baťa´s fl oating channel and the river Morava
If you like running water and like to journey on a ship deck, you can‘t miss the historic waterway known as Baťa´s Floating Channel with thirteen ship canals, which run at an elevation of 18.6 m for a distance of about 65 kilometers. Baťa´s fl oating channel is navigable from Sudoměřice (Skalice in the Slovakia) to Otrokovice. It originally served as a transport route for the transportation of lignite from Ratíškovice to a power station in Otrokovice. Today‘ s use is only recreational. If you want to take innovative pictures from your holiday in Hodonín, it‘s an ideal opportunity.
The weekend in the houseboat
You won´t fi nd freight boats on Baťa´s Floating Channel nowadays. You can therefore spend a quiet weekend here, rent a small motor boat for four to fi ve persons and load the deck with your bicycles or even a grill. Or let yourself ride in a large cruise boat with a guide; eventually you can rent a houseboat and spend an entire holiday, spiced with experiences from trips to the surroundings. Recently a new very popular addition is the „culinary voyage“ with local culinary specialties. Baťa´s Floating Channel is of course available even for those who have their own boat, and it is without any charge.
Cruises For Fun
At present, no permission is needed when piloting a small vessel with a maximum speed of 20 km / h. This means that a person aged over 18 can pilot a vessel without a special permit or license. The staff in the boat-house just explains how to handle it. Baťa´s Floating Channel operates according to the weather, but usually from April. The offi cial opening „Unlocking the sailing season“ is on the 1st of May, and operations end on the 28th of October with „Locking the sailing season“. Both events are accompanied by a rich cultural program, cruises on ships and other surprises. In addition, during the whole season you can enjoy various evening entertainment , country nights and barbecues--just about everything connected with summer and water! Operations on Baťa´s Floating Channel are only limited by the ship canals, which have their operating rules.
Attractions on the cruise
Baťa´s fl oating channel has an average depth of 1,5 meters, width is an average of 12 m. The draught of a ship should not exceed 80 cm and the width of the ship must be within fi ve meters. Shipping water level is maintained by 13 locks, fl oating the weirs is prohibited. The entire waterway has about fi fty bridges, many of which are unique technical monuments, e.g., a unique crossing of waterways with ship‘s rope tow or tipper near Sudoměřice, which used to serve for the movement of cargo from the railway wagons. Currently it serves as a display and an observation tower.
Port Hodonín
Here there are boats, scullers, canoes, pedal boats and rowboats and you can also cruise with the ships Constance (max. 60 pers.) and Korálka (14 pers.). The visitor has the option of refreshments in the stylish restaurant called Srub, operating year-round and built of roughly trimmed trunks. In the dock area, which is located in beautiful nature, there is also a sports ground, gym and fi tness center. Nowadays you can be helped in the Information Center for Water Tourism; parking and camping is also provided. In this region, barbecue and dancing to the rythm of country is common. A wide range of shipping options is available at the following contacts. Do not miss the Fairy-tale sailing of the Southerner survivor!
Shipping the river Dyje
Shipping on the river Dyje in Podluží was renewed in 2001 after almost a half of century of its termination. The fi rst ship Sámo was produced and launched on the water by domestic company Alba z Ladné near Břeclav. At present, shipping company Shipping Břeclav, Ltd. operates a number of ships, not only on Dyje river. Ships even transfer the cyclists and take the bycycle for free. If you come to Podluží, it‘s certainly an appropriate tip for an innovative trip. Sailing the Nature Reserve Niva Dyje has its charm. You can board the ship in port Břeclav, which is situated in the Slovácko´s Rowing Club (above the weir) – the road is marked from the arrival in Břeclav from the motorway exit. On board you will be welcomed by a real captain, so you don´t have to be afraid of your safety.
Scenic fl ights
Scenic fl ights in motor or motorless airplanes over the Podluží and Hodonínsko would be an experience worth repeating. Flight path, aircraft type, fl ight type and lenght of fl ight can be pre-selected here:
On horseback
You do not have to sit directly on a horse (but this is of course possible), but you can also take a coach or historical buggy. Perhaps just trot the forest paths, as once did a prince. Horse farms even offer other services associated with an active rest: accomodation and food. Try their offer in Hodonín, Moravská Nová Ves, Dubňany, Josefov. In March 2009 the town Hodonín signed with Austrian partners in Poysdorf a special agreement for cross-border cooperation which addresses the promotion of horse tourism. Its aim is to include this topic in other programs of tourism.
Fishing and mushroom picking
Fishermen will enjoy fi shing in Podluží and Hodonín, as the Morava river and lakes near Hodonín hide many secrets, especially their blind branches, which are full of great catches. In deep pools you can for example come across imposing catfi sh! With just the quiet and beautiful nature around, you know immediately that this is fi shing paradise. And even if you are a mushroom picker, you won´t be dissapointed. Under the centenary oak trees, there grow boletus, and of course, dozens of other species of fungi. With a bit of luck, you can fi nd for example vatovec huge.
Sport shooting and hunting
An active form of relaxation is undoubtedly connected with sport shooting or hunting. In the fi rst case, you can shoot in sports shooting facilities in Hodonin and Mutěnice, you can use small bore rifles, airguns or long-bows and crossbows. In the game-preserve (Soutok in Podluží, Radějov and Rohatec) are kept deer, fallow deer and wild boars. Obora Soutok is the largest preserve in the Czech Republic and it spans between the rivers Morava and Dyje, north of their confl uence. The unique atmosphere of alluvial forests, full of water canals, blind branches and pools, forests with centenary oak trees, rare fl ora and birds, all offering unique moments even for the „hunter without weapons.“ The stylish historical cottage Dubravka in Soutok offers accommodation for up to six hunters.
