Uherské Hradiště, Czech Republic: 9 Things to See in the Capital of Slovácko 2026

Uherské Hradiště in the Czech Republic is the capital of the ethnographic region of Slovácko – an enchanting land of wine, cimbalom music, lavishly embroidered folk costumes and living folklore. It was founded back in 1257 by King Přemysl Otakar II on an island in the branches of the River Morava as a border fortress against Hungarian raids, and over time it grew into an extensive Baroque bastion fortress.

At the same time it lies right in the heart of the ninth-century Great Moravia, just a short hop from the famous pilgrimage site of Velehrad. It is the proverbial gateway to Slovácko – a town where Baroque squares, the picturesque wine cellars of Mařatice and a thousand years of history all come together.

Let’s walk through what to see in Uherské Hradiště so you get the most out of your visit. I’ll tell you the best time to go for wine and sights, where to stay comfortably, and which fascinating places nearby you absolutely shouldn’t miss.

TL;DR

• Historic centre: Masaryk and Marian Squares with stunning churches and a Baroque plague column.
• Slovácko Museum: the perfect place to get acquainted with local folklore and richly embroidered costumes.
• Great Moravia: fascinating archaeological excavations in Staré Město revealing ninth-century foundations.
• Wine and tradition: picturesque wine cellars in Mařatice and the Rochus open-air museum tucked into beautiful countryside.
• Baťa Canal: a historic waterway perfect for relaxing boat cruises and active summer holidays.
• Trips around the area: the pilgrimage site of Velehrad, the mighty Buchlov Castle, or the unique Živá voda exhibition in Modrá.

When to Visit Uherské Hradiště

If you’re wondering when to plan your trip to Slovácko, it really depends on what you want out of it. The town has its charm all year round, but the peak of the season is without doubt the second weekend of September. That’s when the grand Slovácko Wine and Open Monuments Festival takes place, an event held here since 2003. A festive procession of more than three thousand participants in traditional costume fills the streets, cimbalom bands play everywhere, and the tastings of young wine and local vintages never seem to end. It’s an experience no folklore lover should miss.

Spring and summer, on the other hand, are ideal for more active travellers who want to explore the surroundings from the saddle of a bike or the deck of a boat. The cycle paths along the River Morava and the Baťa Canal itself come alive with the first warm days and offer great conditions for outings. The summer months tend to be a little busier, but thanks to the long evenings you can fully enjoy sitting out at the local cafés. In winter the town falls quiet, though the Advent season brings charming Christmas markets that lend the historic centre an incredibly romantic atmosphere.

Where to Stay in Uherské Hradiště

When planning your stay in the capital of Slovácko, you’ll have a whole range of pleasant hotels and guesthouses to choose from. Travellers most often pick accommodation right in the historic centre, just a few steps from all the main sights and the celebrated cafés. But if you prefer peace and quiet, you can opt for the outskirts of town, which make a great base for cycling trips into the countryside.

Rooms tend to sell out months in advance during the wine festival, so don’t put off booking for the September dates. Popular and very well-reviewed options include, for example, Hotel Mariánský Dvůr Uherské Hradiště, which offers cosy facilities and a great base for wandering the town.

Another excellent choice for lovers of a more traditional style is Hotel Koníček Uherské Hradiště, where guests often praise the very friendly staff and laid-back atmosphere. A modern middle-of-the-road option is Hotel Mlýnská Uherské Hradiště, where visitors particularly appreciate the cleanliness and spacious rooms. And if you’re after something right in the thick of the action, try Hotel U hejtmana Šarovce Uherské Hradiště, just a few minutes’ walk from both main squares.

9 Things to See and Do in Uherské Hradiště, Czech Republic

So what really shouldn’t you miss in the centre of Uherské Hradiště and its surroundings? Whether you love history, are interested in folk architecture, or simply enjoy strolling down narrow lanes and discovering the charm of bygone days, this town won’t let you down. I’ve put together a list of nine places you shouldn’t skip on your visit.

1. Masaryk Square and the Church of St Francis Xavier

The main square of the historic core is the natural hub of everything going on and an ideal starting point for exploring the town. It’s lined with a row of charming burgher houses, and in the middle stands a beautiful Baroque fountain decorated with dolphins. The biggest landmark, however, is without doubt the former Jesuit Church of St Francis Xavier. This stunning building went up between 1670 and 1685 to a design by the renowned architect Jan Dominik Orsi, with construction itself led by Jan Jeroným Canevalle.

The church was originally part of an extensive Jesuit complex, and both its interior and exterior are showcases of masterful Baroque architecture. Interestingly, beneath the paving of today’s square lie the foundations of the long-vanished Church of St George – just another sign of how rich and layered this place’s history really is. Wandering across the square with a coffee in hand is the best way to soak up the local atmosphere.

2. The Reduta

Another building in the town centre that’s impossible to overlook is the Reduta. Many visitors mistakenly assume at first glance that it’s the historic town hall, but the truth is far more interesting. It’s a striking structure of purely Jesuit origin that once formed part of the Jesuit grammar school. Its pride and joy was a magnificent theatre hall completed in 1729, where the cultural life of the day took shape.

Over the centuries the Reduta has seen many changes and darker chapters, as at certain points it even served as a prison. Today the building has returned to its cultural roots and acts as an important social centre. Inside you’ll also find an engaging exhibition on the town’s history, which doesn’t forget to acknowledge those prison years. It’s a place full of contrasts that beautifully illustrates the region’s tangled past.

3. The Slovácko Museum

If you really want to understand the soul of Slovácko, your steps simply have to lead to the Slovácko Museum. This institution was founded back in 1914 and has been carefully collecting and protecting the treasures of local ethnography ever since. The main building has stood since 1931 in the pleasant setting of Smetana Park, where you can immerse yourself in the world of folk art, traditional winemaking and living folklore.

For many visitors the biggest draw is the lavishly embroidered folk costumes, bursting with colour and showing the incredible skill of the local ancestors. The museum isn’t limited to a single building, though – it also includes the stunning Slovácko Museum Gallery housed in a Baroque armoury, and the nearby Great Moravia Memorial. The exhibitions have a modern feel, so they’ll appeal even to those who aren’t usually keen on folklore museums.

4. The Franciscan Monastery and Church of the Annunciation

For moments of peace and reflection, I recommend visiting the grounds of the Franciscan monastery. The Franciscans came to the town back in 1491, invited by Bishop Jan Filipec, who became the founder of this spiritual site. The Church of the Annunciation itself hides a stunning Gothic core dating from the turn of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, seamlessly blended with elegant Baroque alterations from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

The monastery is still fully functional today, which gives it an extraordinarily authentic and calming atmosphere. The monastery courtyard is noticeably quieter than the square just a few steps away. Locals often come here to escape the summer heat and admire the architectural details that recall the town’s centuries-old history.

5. Marian Square and the Plague Column

The town’s second important square is called Marian Square, and it offers a slightly different, more intimate atmosphere than the larger Masaryk Square. Its absolute centrepiece is a magnificent sandstone Marian column, erected between 1718 and 1721 in thanks for averting a devastating plague epidemic. That’s also where its popular name, the plague column, comes from.

At the very top of this work of art stands a statue of the Madonna, surrounded at the base by statues of the major plague patron saints. The column is a wonderful example of Baroque sculpture and forms the photogenic focal point of the whole space. People often confuse its location with the main square, but trust me – to find this monument you need to head right here, to Marian Square.

6. The Great Moravia Memorial in Staré Město

For lovers of the oldest national history, a visit to Staré Město is an absolute must. This part of town is now closely fused with Uherské Hradiště, and it was right here, in a locality called Na Valách, that one of the most important centres of the famous Great Moravia once stood. In 1949 the leading archaeologist Vilém Hrubý made a discovery of Europe-wide significance here when he uncovered the foundations of a ninth-century Great Moravian church. It was the very first proven Great Moravian architecture on Czech soil.

Today the Great Moravia Memorial rises above these precious foundations. It is a national cultural monument and falls under the management of the Slovácko Museum. The underground exhibition is complemented by modern features, and since 2022 it has been joined by a brand-new Cyril and Methodius Centre. Standing over those foundations, you fully grasp just how advanced the society that lived here more than a thousand years ago really was.

7. Rochus Park and the Rochus Open-Air Museum

When you fancy a break from the town’s buildings, head to Rochus Nature Park, which spreads across the slopes of Černá hora in the outlying district of Mařatice. This expansive area of around sixty hectares offers beautiful views over the landscape and is dominated by the historic Chapel of St Roch. It’s an ideal spot for an afternoon walk to clear your head.

The park’s greatest gem, however, is the open-air museum of the same name, Rochus, opened in 2012. This open-air museum sensitively showcases folk architecture from the entire Uherské Hradiště region. Strolling between the old cottages and barns is like travelling back in time. It’s run by an independent non-profit organisation that works to preserve this lovely blend of nature, views and folklore for future generations.

8. Mařatice and the Wine Cellars

Being in Slovácko and not visiting the wine cellars would simply be a sin. The wine-growing district of Mařatice is famous for its picturesque lanes lined with traditional cellars, especially in the much-loved Stará Hora locality. A walk among these little buildings is one of the region’s classic symbols, and travellers can’t get enough of the peaceful atmosphere here.

The local soil and climate are exceptionally well suited to growing vines. Among the most common varieties that the local winemakers lovingly tend are the whites Müller Thurgau, Pinot Blanc and Rhine Riesling, while among the reds Frankovka (Blaufränkisch) clearly leads the way. Even when there’s no big festival going on, you’ll always find an open cellar where you can sit down over a glass of good Slovácko wine.

9. The Baťa Canal and Boat Cruises

A technical marvel and today one of the most popular tourist attractions in the wider area – that’s the Baťa Canal. This historic waterway was built between 1934 and 1938 and stretches around fifty-two kilometres. It originally ran along the River Morava and through a separate channel from Otrokovice all the way to Rohatec, and its main purpose was purely industrial: it served to transport lignite for the giant Baťa factories.

Today the canal has been transformed into a popular waterway that lures visitors for romantic outings and active relaxation alike. Excursion boats set off regularly from the marina near Staré Město and take you through the prettiest stretches. If you prefer your privacy, you can easily rent a small motorboat here – and you don’t even need a captain’s licence to steer it. The view of the Slovácko countryside from the water is utterly enchanting.

💡 Tip for families: KOVOZOO in Staré Město and the Uherské Hradiště Aquapark. If you’re travelling with the family, don’t skip the unique KOVOZOO. It’s the only zoo in Europe where you’ll find over five hundred life-sized animals made entirely from scrap metal. The park has been running since 2012, and kids will also love the local Maják Šrotík lookout tower. After a busy day, the Uherské Hradiště Aquapark comes in handy too, with indoor and outdoor areas full of slides and a great sauna world for the parents.

Where to Eat in Uherské Hradiště

Uherské Hradiště offers a surprisingly rich food scene, with plenty of cosy cafés and modern bistros. If you love speciality coffee, don’t miss Kafec U Komína, where alongside excellent espresso you can treat yourself to fantastic waffles and hearty breakfasts with a view right over the river. Another favourite stop is Zelený pokoj on Masaryk Square, a charming café combined with a bakery and bistro (just watch out, they tend to be closed on Mondays). For a filling morning brunch, travellers heartily recommend DOMA bistro on Palacký Square. Families with children will appreciate BO café, which serves great pancakes and has a big kids’ corner. You’ll also find excellent coffee specialities just a short walk from the centre at Caféčko.

Vegetarians won’t go hungry either. The local bistros serve meat-free breakfasts, modern brunches and varied lunch menus based on fresh ingredients. As for typical local cuisine, Slovácko is famous above all for its sweets. The local bakeries offer wonderful Slovácko jam buns topped with crumble, or delicate fried pastries known as boží milosti. And no evening get-together is complete without wine from the local cellars. Traditional meaty Slovácko specialities such as sausages or pig-slaughter delicacies have, of course, always been part of the local folklore – though as vegetarians the two of us would be hard-pushed to tuck into them.

Day Trips from Uherské Hradiště

If you’ve set aside more than a day to explore Slovácko, the area around the town offers an incredible number of historic and natural destinations. Here are the most interesting of them:

• Velehrad (about 6 km): The largest pilgrimage site in Moravia, tied to the Cyril and Methodius tradition. Its Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saints Cyril and Methodius is a national cultural monument and the largest Baroque church in the Czech Republic. The main pilgrimage takes place here every year on 5 July.
• The Archaeological Open-Air Museum and Živá voda in Modrá (about 10 km): The open-air museum is a fascinating replica of a ninth-century Great Moravian fortified settlement, with live demonstrations of ancient crafts. Right next door is the Živá voda exhibition, where you walk through a glass tunnel beneath the surface of a pond and watch giant sturgeons gliding by.
• Buchlov Castle (about 12 km): A mighty Gothic royal castle dating from the first half of the thirteenth century. It towers high on a hill in the Chřiby uplands and is one of the oldest preserved castles in the country.
• Buchlovice Chateau (about 10 km): A beautiful Baroque chateau built in the style of Italian villas in the early eighteenth century. It’s surrounded by an extensive English park full of rare trees, and in summer it regularly hosts the popular garlic festival.
• Kunovice Aviation Museum: Just outside town, an open-air exhibition of dozens of historic aircraft has stood since 1970. The museum was set up right next to the maker of the famous L 410 aircraft and will delight every tech enthusiast.

💡 Tip: If you like to plan activities ahead and want to be sure of tickets or special tours, I recommend searching the GetYourGuide platform. While smaller local sights aren’t usually listed there, for the bigger attractions in the wider area it’s often the most convenient way to book.

Where to Next

• Where to go on holiday in the Czech Republic
• What to see in Zlín
• Christmas markets in Uherské Hradiště

Frequently Asked Questions