Slavonice

Slavonice, located 190 kilometres from Prague, is one of the best preserved towns in the Czech Republic. The old town is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Slavonice has an outstanding Renaissance character. During the Thirty Years War, Slavonice was stricken by the plague and was very impoverished by the Swedish occupation. Consequently, the town could not rebuild houses in the baroque style that is otherwise omnipresent in the Czech Republic.
Slavonice is also close to the Austrian border, and during the communist era was located in the restricted zone, which only residents and people with special permits were allowed to enter. One byproduct of the resulting economic stagnation was that it helped protect the area's architectural heritage.
A pleasant town tour can be completed in a short time. Travellers will encounter ceramic workshops around both the upper and lower squares (Horní náměstí and Dolní náměstí). The archways of the Renaissance houses today house small shops and coffeehouses. Slavonice's Town Hall dates back to 1599. Also of interest are the town's catacombs, which were used as a defence and communication system during the 13th century.
To cap off your town tour, don’t miss a visit to Beseda - one of the most reputable coffeehouses in the Czech Republic. In addition to eating, drinking and sleeping, customers - even foreigners - can take photography, ceramics and drama lessons.