Kudlovice: Valley, Wine Tradition and Cultural Monuments

Kudlovice combines a long wine tradition with a distinctive valley landscape and several historic buildings. These themes offer different starting points when choosing a destination: you can explore the landscape of the Chřiby, winegrowing and wine events, or the history of the town.

The Valley and the Landscape of the Chřiby

Kudlovice lies at the foot of the Chřiby forests. The Kudlovická dolina, popularly known as Kudlovská dolina, is a deep valley about five kilometres long between Kostelany and Kudlovice. The Kudlovický potok flows through the valley, which lies in the southeastern part of the Chřiby. The valley, stream and regional setting together form defining features of the town’s landscape.

The stream forms a series of botanically interesting wetlands in the Kudlovická dolina. Traces of human settlement also reach far back in time: there are traces of Palaeolithic settlement in the valley. In the northern part lies the Budačina rock formation, which is associated with legends about robbers staying there. Natural features, archaeological traces and traditional stories each give the valley a different historical and landscape connection.

Winegrowing and an Annual Event

The wine tradition can be traced through specific historical dates. Vineyards in Kudlovice are first mentioned in 1466. According to records, a total of 31 hectares in the Paňháje wine-growing area were planted with vines in 1657. The two dates point to different things: the early mention of vineyards and a later record relating to a specific wine-growing area and its size.

Wine is also a topic to consider when planning a trip today: every year around the turn of May and June, the Kudlovický vinný žleb event takes place in the wine lane Kudlovský žleb on Hubáčkova ulice. The wine cellars open to the public, and winemakers offer tastings. If you would like to plan your stay around this date, check the exact event days before travelling. This makes it possible to distinguish the recurring time of year from the historical information about winegrowing.

Buildings and Local History

Among the historic buildings is the Chapel of St John the Baptist (sv. Jana Křtitele). It was built from hewn stone in 1747 and has been listed as a protected cultural monument in the state heritage register since 1958. The chapel houses a slightly larger-than-life sculptural group depicting the Baptism of Christ. The year of construction, material and subject each give the building a distinct art- and architectural-historical connection.

The plague chapel (Morová kaplička) recalls a different historical event. It was built after 1663 in gratitude for the plague being averted and has been recognised as a protected cultural monument since 1999. The bell tower (Zvonice) is also a protected cultural monument; it dates from the second half of the 18th century. These buildings bring together different historical periods: the dates range from construction after 1663 to the 1747 building date and the bell tower’s dating to the second half of the 18th century.

The Dům Strmenských illustrates the residential and economic life of a smallholder in the region at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. It complements the religious buildings with an insight into rural life and work at the time. The town’s history also records the Easter rattling by children, known as “vrgání”. Together, these themes offer different ways to explore Kudlovice: from its landscape and older settlement traces to winegrowing, buildings and traditional customs.

Discover more destinations: Kostelany Nad Moravou, Podolí, Lopenik, Květná, Pitín, Vyškovec, Slavkov, Hluk.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Uherské Hradiště.