Kunovice: Aviation History, Festivals and Trails

Kunovice combines aviation history with traditional festivals, with trails through Kunovský les nearby. If you are looking for a hotel in Kunovice, you can consider your travel dates alongside your interests: a visit around the Jízda králů follows a different rhythm from a stay focused on a museum, architectural history or walks. The highlights below can help you choose the focus of your trip.

Aviation History at the Museum

The Letecké muzeum v Kunovicích displays the former government aircraft Tupolev TU-154M “Naganský expres”. The museum also documents aviation history and aircraft production, which still plays an important role in the Czech Republic and is concentrated in Kunovice in the Uherské Hradiště area. This brings a specific former government aircraft together with the broader history of aircraft production as subjects in their own right.

With an admission ticket, you can look inside aircraft and listen to crews communicating by radio with the control tower at Kunovice Airport. Individual exhibits may occasionally be unavailable; visitor services may also change for operational reasons. Check the latest visitor information in advance if you are planning a specific experience.

Festivals with Different Dates

The earliest known record of the Jízda králů in Kunovice dates from 1892. Since its revival in 1996, it has been held regularly every two years, usually around Pentecost Sunday and about a week before the Jízda králů in Vlčnov. Check the dates for each edition separately. The festival and its accompanying events take place in Kunovice’s town centre and the immediate surrounding area.

The Svatováclavské hody s právem has been celebrated in Kunovice since 1918. A central feature of the Kunovice Hody is the hodové právo: it derives from symbols of the authority of municipal self-government and represents rank, power and authority. This gives you a way to understand the festival not only as an event, but also in terms of its significance to local tradition.

The school of folk dance is another seasonal feature of the Kunovice Hody. It is held regularly in August and September. Its recurring dates therefore differ from those of the Jízda králů, which is celebrated every two years; the specific dates of both may be relevant when planning your trip.

Architectural History and Visiting Conditions

The heritage-listed house at No. 679 was built in the first third of the 19th century, following two devastating fires in Kunovice. It preserves a traditional black kitchen. Visits are possible only by prior arrangement, which you should bear in mind when planning this historic stop.

The Church of St Peter and Paul acquired its present appearance in the 18th century. The church is open during services. If you would like to include it in your stay, check the current service times before visiting.

Sport and Outdoor Nature

The Jízdy králů Kunovice complex is used year-round by locals and tourists for active recreation. It has a sports field with artificial turf, a skate arena and an outdoor fitness area; sports equipment can be borrowed free of charge. If you would like to use a particular facility, check its current availability in advance, as public facilities may change.

The five-kilometre Kunovský les educational trail runs near Kunovice through a recreational woodland close to the town and across mostly flat terrain. Ten stations introduce typical plants and animals of the floodplain forest community in the Morava River floodplain. The trail starts at a clearing known as Jelení louka, near the cycle path to the Kunovice aircraft factory and Kunovice Airport. Trail conditions may vary; check them before setting out.

Also near Kunovice, Lesopark Kunovský les offers a public running trail, an educational trail, a disc golf course and a children’s playground. In addition to the nature information along the five-kilometre educational trail, you’ll find other specific leisure activities here. The educational trail and the forest park cater to different interests, and their offerings should not be treated as interchangeable.

Discover more destinations: Květná, Boršice U Blatnice, Vlčnov, Polešovice, Staré Město, Podolí, Březolupy, Bojkovice.

See the overview of the wider area: Okres Uherské Hradiště.