Znojmo

The south-west Moravian town was founded in the 13th century and also suffered during the Hussite wars, thanks to its powerful walls and underground tunnel network. Znojmo‘s tunnels merged defensive communications with the cellar spaces needed to preserve food, wine and water supplies.

The town's landmark is a prominent Gothic tower above the old town hall. The smaller defensive tower Vlkova věž can be climbed. The walls and part of the town's castle have survived, but a small rotunda tower dedicated to St Catherine, is especially precious because of its surviving but fragile Romanesque interior frescoes.

The town's churches include the Baroque Kostelo svatého Michaela and Capuchin monastery church Kostel svatého Jana Křtitele. Chrám svatého Mikuláše, above the valley of the river Dyje, is fitted with a glass coffin that holds the claimed relics of St Boniface, supposedly brought from the catacombs of Thebes. The twin-level Kaple svatého Václava next to it houses ceiling reliefs of saints and sculpted Crucifixion scene and painted motifs in the older, Gothic lower chapel.

The Louka abbey to the south of the old town is set for major restoration work.

Urban palaces include the impressive Palác Daun and the house at Horní náměstí where Napoleon stayed overnight before the Battle of Austerlitz.