Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
After 1989, the deep woods of the military zone were opened
up to hikers and cyclists, the border a mile south of Slavonice was
reopened, and Austrians began flocking here for a cheap lunch and
shopping sprees—boosting business and bringing a new period
of relative prosperity to Slavonice. The children you see playing
in the streets today—the grandkids of those Czech settlers from
1945—are enjoying good times once again. But something about
this town, at the end of the Czech world just 20 years ago, still
feels like Česká Kanada.
ORIENTATION
Everything of interest is on Slavonice's main square, Náměstí
Míru. The train and bus stations are each within a few minutes'
walking distance of the center (head for the church tower, which
overlooks the square).
Tourist Information
The TI, on the main square, hands out useful tourist maps of the
Slavonicko region and sells the detailed
Česká Kanada
hiking map.
They also have good Internet access (daily 9:00-12:00 & 13:00-
18:00, shorter hours off-season, Náměstí Míru, tel. 384-493-320,
www.slavonice-mesto.cz).
The little-frequented roads in the area are ideal for
biking;
you can borrow bikes from each of the listed hotels (see “Sleeping,”
page 220).
SIGHTS
The city tower and the simple town museum are nothing special
and probably not worth your time (both open daily June-Aug,
weekends only May and Sept, closed Oct-April). Instead, consider
the following attractions.
Underground Passages
—he medieval cellars under the town,
connected by an intricate network of underground passages, are a
hit with children and thin, short people. Starting from the entrance
(on the main square, next to the TI), you can slip on boots and an
overcoat and follow the flashlight of your guide, squeezing through
a 30-minute subterranean tour of the town. While you'll see little
more than dirty bricks, it's certainly a unique experience. It costs
40 Kč to join an existing tour. If you're visiting at a time when a
tour isn't already scheduled, you'll pay 240 Kč, the total cost of a
tour for six people (July-Aug daily 9:00-18:00, call 775-906-330 to
arrange a visit).
Sudetenland Defenses
—Just outside Slavonice, hidden in a
thick forest, is a network of armadillo-like concrete pillboxes and
