Enjoyable Znojmo

I can't believe Znojmo, in the Czech Republic, is not better known. What a charming, fascinating place—with hotel and restaurant prices cheaper than in Prague, Cesky Krumlov or Karlovy Vary. Znojmo (the 'j' is pronounced like a 'y') is just across the Austrian border, about an hour and a half north of Vienna. The area has been growing grapes for wine for eleven centuries.

Znojmo's central square:

The Gothic Church of St. Nicholas dates back to around 1100:

The small chapel, Wenceslas Chantry, is unusual for its two stories; the upper chapel is named for St. Anne and St. Catherine while the lower one is named for St. Martin:

Znojmo's fairytale Gothic tower looks a bit like Prague's Tyn:

A residence with great windowboxes:

The Althansky Palace Hotel and Restaurant served good food at surprisingly low prices:

I like the angles of these rooftops:

The St. Nicholas Church and Wenceslas Chantry, which sits on the edge of a cliff have a heavenly aura in the thick fog:

The St. Catherine Rotunda is thought to have been built in the 1080s. It's frescoes are a national treasure. Unfortunately, it's closed in November.

Znojmo Castle overlooks the Dyje River and the Podyji National Park:

During the 14th and 15th Centuries, Znojmo's residents carved a four-story labyrinth of tunnels out of hard granite beneath their houses. Used to store wine and food as well as to provide refuge from attacking armies, there were no divisions between the storage areas because theft was not a problem. The ingenious citizens installed wells, an aqueduct, elevators, and ventilation shafts. They devised entrances the soldiers could find, positioning them for ambush or drowning and created firepits for warmth and cooking that vented out of the chimneys in their homes. When Swedish armies attacked, residents gathered their valuables and scurried into the miles of cellars. For weeks or months, smoke continued to rise through the chimneys giving the impression that the town was inhabited by ghosts.