Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, Cultural landscape and UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Moravia, Czech Republic

The Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape covers 283.09 km² in the Břeclav district on the Austrian border, comprising the towns of Lednice, Valtice and Hlohovec plus the rural area of Břeclav. It holds two castles, the Lednice Ponds, the planted Boří Forest and a floodplain forest along the Dyje, linked by a 7 km avenue from 1715.

The House of Liechtenstein acquired Valtice Castle in 1249 and gradually transformed the surrounding estates into an extensive private park over seven centuries. This continuous reshaping shows how one family steadily expanded and refined their holdings through architectural and landscape design.

The landscape blends Baroque, Neoclassical, and Neo-Gothic architecture with English garden design, evident in numerous pavilions and viewing platforms. Visitors can see how these elements reflect the tastes and aspirations of the noble family who designed this expansive retreat over centuries.

The area can be explored on foot along marked hiking trails, by bicycle on developed routes, or through guided tours available at both castles in multiple languages. Comfortable footwear is recommended since distances are significant and the terrain varies throughout the region.

The Minaret in the Lednice gardens is one of the follies scattered through the designed landscape, alongside the Temple of Apollo, Belvedere and Rendezvous. The Liechtenstein princes built such pavilions as summer houses and hunting lodges across their park between the 17th and 20th centuries.