Czechast with Jiří Kacetl about Znojmo

Znojmo and the westernmost wine region of Moravia look to Vienna rather than Brno.

Jiří Kacetl|Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

In this episode of Czechast, we’re heading to South Moravia to visit the historic town of Znojmo. It is a place with a unique identity. Perched on the borderlands, it has traditionally looked more towards Vienna than Prague, or even Brno. Joining me is Jiří Kacetl, historian and deputy mayor of Znojmo, who offers fascinating insights into this remarkable town's past and present. In our conversation, we discuss some of the town’s most iconic features, including the majestic local church of Saint Nicholas as described by Jiří himself:

“It really looks like a cathedral. It's truly master-like Gothic, high Gothic architecture, which was built by the artisans and stonemasons from Vienna St. Stephen's Dome stonemasonry. So we had these Viennese artisans here, and they built this huge church. It looks truly magnificent.”

Church of Saint Nicholas in Znojmo|Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

We also delve into Znojmo’s demographic history, exploring its predominantly German-speaking population before World War II.

“Before 1918, they called themselves Moravians, as we did. My family was the Moravian family of Slavic tongue, and they were Moravians of the German tongue. And, in most cases, they were able to cooperate without any problem.”

No discussion of Znojmo would be complete without mentioning its famous pickled cucumbers. However, as Jiří points out, there’s been a shift over the years:

Znojmo|Photo: Magdalena Hrozínková, Radio Prague International

“Are there any Znojmo pickles still today? And the answer is, of course there are, but they are not grown here. Most of them are not grown here.”

And finally, we couldn’t overlook the region’s exceptional wines, which are closely tied to its culture and economy. Jiří highlights:

“We are now in the westernmost wine region of South Moravia, and we've got really good Sauvignon-type wines. Also, the green Veltliner is also very good here.”

So, why not listen to this episode of Czechast, where we dive into the rich history, culture, and flavors of Znojmo with Jiří Kacetl?