Thursday 31 January 2013

Mikulov


Mikulov


A small city in the south of the Czech Republic, probably most known for wineries and hectares of  grapevine crops. The best time to visit Mikulov is September, when the young wine is prepared. It’s connected with festivals, live-music, drinking or tasting (if someone would prefer to name it this way) litres of wine and huge hangover the next day. No sorrow will come to Mikulov those days, only joy and happiness. People from nearby villages as well as city dwellers arrive to become part of it, arrive to taste the best young wines in the Czech Republic and of course buy provisions. Every year I promise to myself that I’ll join those bunches of drunk young people and enjoy myself together with a cup of wine....so September 2013 here I come.

Shopkeepers invite for free degustation, they’ll ask you to come inside and taste homemade wine. Every and each of them have unique, inimitable recipes. Every family has its own history, they plant and cultivate grapes on their own, and choose only the best quality grapes for wine production. I think also guided tours are available for interested.

Besides wine festival Mikulov has much more to offer, during holidays you can rent a camper and go to a nearby lake Nove Mlyny, it’s only 10 km away from the city. It’s really amazing place to stay, relax or spend your time actively, because it’s possible to rent all kind of water equipment there. I saw people surfing, diving and trying more risky stuff like motorboats or kites. So pitch a tent for a few days or stay at cabin and please yourself. No bother bringing your own food as there are plenty of restaurants and fast food kiosks with delicious and cheap food. I am not sure about fresh bread deliveries, but you’ll have to check on place.

My boyfriend and I visited Mikulov in January 2011 for the first time, a beautiful winter was back then. Light snowflakes lying on the ground and blinding sunbeam falling right to our eye balls is exactly what I remembered.  But of course let’s not forget about castle and “saint” hill, which unfolds charm of the city. Main square’s showcases are ornamented house at knights dated back to 1591 and a Holy Trinity Sculpture from 1723-1724. Whole main square is kept in a renaissance style. It’s small but memorable and only minutes from the castle. You can enter the castle through big, steel gates and walk around a bit, or go inside. Castle seats Regional Museum of Mikulov.

Did you know that stations of the Cross at Holly Hill is the oldest one in the Czech Republic? The tradition of symbolic representation of Jesus Christ suffering arose in 15th century in this country. FrantiĊĦek from Dietrichstein, built a chapel, because he wanted to thank God for saving Mikulov from epidemic. The first building appeared in 1630 and until 1776 new were built. Nowadays chapels and the way to the cross is in really bad condition, tumbledown and unkempt, but the city raises donation to mend them. 



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