Mikulov, close to the Austrian border.

 Wow, what a beautiful, luckily not  so well known gem. Only kilometres from the Austrian border, surrounded by vineyards, bio tops and hills, Mikulov is the perfect place to get your breath back after four intensive days of languages!

I arrived in light drizzle, very refreshing after the searing heat of the previous week. Of course the picturesque, colourful , Renaissance style houses didn’t have the same brightness they had the next day.

It’s the perfect place to savouring a glass or two of local wines, whilst watching locals, cyclists and a few tourists meandering across the gorgeous pedestrian main square. It was as if life had suddenly stood still a moment, after the bustle of Madrid and Brno. However, on the down side, I missed the laughter, the huge smiles from young and old and the feeling that people were enjoying one another’s company. Maybe it’s after the years of repression. One lady I chatted to a little in English told me during communism she couldn’t even go to school.

Language is my biggest issue when travelling here. 

‘Mluvite anglisky, nemetsky?’ I ask in my few phrases I know. ‘Ne, cesky’ comes the answer. They only know Czech. I wish I had studied harder. I got dropped off at the end of the bus line, miles from the city and a tough walk up the hill. Luckily, I found a little bar where the lady spoke German and helped me find a taxi. Finding my accommodation proved equally tricky, but I got there and it’s wonderful. Actually, the trials of travelling add to the adventure.

Magnificent, the evening sun lit up the towers of the Dietrichstein tomb, which I didn’t have time to visit.

 

Mikulov has survived wars and fires. It dates back 800 years and was one of the largest Jewish communities in Moravia, Czech.  

Mikulov Chateau, Castle. What a magnificent sight, perched on the hill overlooking this fantastic town. 

I just had to visit this majestic place with its pretty gardens. The building, which was restored after the second World War, is amazing, sitting on top of rock, with many walls intertwined into the rock.

The tour was fine. Luckily, I had an audio in English and felt so bad for the poor young girl being trained as a guide. You could just about see her brain cells desperately looking for the next piece of information. Then, when she couldn’t remember, she looked helplessly at a rather dour looking experienced guide, who helped out. The apprentice couldn’t even manage a smile during the one hour tour. She might have felt better if she had!

The entrance to the castle is just as impressive as the inside. Ancient towers and lovely flowers, lighting up the dark stone.

It was so hot and the fountain was dry. I felt like the figure etched in the stone - gasping!

The highlight of the tour was undoubtedly being able to go out on the huge balcony to get expansive views of the picturesque town and the Sacred /Holy Hill above. It was drawing me to it despite my foot telling me it wasn’t a good idea.

There was a beautiful, restful garden to the west, once used as a riding school, and then just as a spot to rest and meditate. Just what I did in the shade. Wonderfully therapeutic.

Lavender twice in the year. How lucky I am. The gardens are magnificent.

So, although I had decided NOT to climb the hill, I headed in that direction and started up on a lesser used track to get a look at the cliffs I had seen earlier. The path from there was too steep, so I turned back.

One of the main tracks had very steep stairs most of the way, so I took a much longer route which took me through some very dense forests, totally in the shade towards my goal. I had thought I might get half way and get a view, but suddenly, much to my surprise and relief, I popped out of the forest and there was the Chapel of St Sebastian!

I had made it despite the heat and sore foot. I felt so proud and thrilled to be there, having spent the entire morning convincing myself not to go,

The views in all directions were fabulous. At 363 metres, it really is, as the guide book says, A Touch of Heaven. Okay I hadn’t done the Way of the Cross pathway, but a much more sensible one,

It was great getting a reverse view of the city.

I had definitely earned myself a good rest

And a couple of new tastings. The wine is so different to ours, but I enjoyed them all. I was feeling so pleased with myself and had a brilliant evening people and dog watching! 

That late evening light is just so special here.

What vibrant colours they use and yet they blend so beautifully together.

Oops. Dinner just wouldn’t have tasted quite as good without a local wine! I had a delicious local dish of meatballs, cranberries and mashed potato with a really tasty sauce. It reminded me of Swedish meatballs.

Time to leave Mikulov, a place I would certainly recommend.