Slavonice to Znojmo

Last night’s dinner was a carb loading extravaganza of bruschetta, pizza and pancakes - no excuse for hangriness today!  Jim Cox told us about the history of Austria over dinner, I hadn’t realised that in the immediate aftermath of WW2, it was divided into four occupation zones and jointly occupied by the US, the Soviet Union, the UK and France. Eventually, after Austrian promises of perpetual neutrality, it was accorded full independence in 1955 and all the occupation troops left.

This was particularly relevant to the ride today as we crisscrossed the Czech and Austrian borders.

It was easy on a bicycle in 2019 (apart from the roadworks in the way), but borders were very different 30 years ago.

Our lunch stop was where an Iron Curtain remnant with a watchtower has been preserved.

Obviously there had to be castle on the route and today’s had the particularly great name of ‘Hardegg’.

I think the Houses of Parliament need to adopt the German/Austrian name for town hall - ‘Rathaus’ seems much more appropriate...

I chose to do the long route today as vineyards were mentioned and I do love a pedal through pretty grapes. The route was so beautiful but my gravel bike would have been useful in places.







This area was inaccessible under communism but is now crisscrossed with hiking and biking routes on narrow border-patrol roads with very limited car traffic.

It was 32c by the time I finished the ride and I had to have a little pre-vomit hang over the handlebars on the last climb into unpronounceable Znojmo. It was a tough but fabulous day on the bike, I’m loving this trip!

A few photos from my post shower, post beer walk around the beautiful town: