At the end of April, students of urban planning and architecture from TU Wien set off on a three-day field trip through the border region between Austria and the Czech Republic, together with students from TU Brno. The trip was organized by our lecturers Nina Svanda and Thomas Dillinger and made possible through funding from Aktion Österreich. The goal was to gain firsthand knowledge of spatial developments, historical structures, and current transformation processes—while simultaneously strengthening the academic and cultural exchange between the two universities.
Day 1: From Břeclav to Znojmo and Vranov nad Dyjí
The first day began early in the morning in Břeclav, from where the group traveled by bus to Znojmo. There, the first item on the agenda was a tour of a monastery. In addition to architectural highlights, this also provided an opportunity for the two student groups to get to know each other—accompanied by a shared lunch break.
In the afternoon, the route continued to Vranov nad Dyjí. The imposing castle complex, picturesquely situated above the Dyje River, was explored from the outside and offered impressive views of the surrounding landscape. On the return trip to Znojmo, a power plant and a dam were discussed as optional stops before the day concluded with check-in at the hotel and an open-ended evening.
Day 2: Rural Transformation and Thayatal National Park
On the second day, the group traveled from Znojmo across the border into Austria, first to Drosendorf. There, they visited the castle, home to landuni, an exciting example of new approaches to repurposing historic buildings in rural areas.
The excursion continued to Langau, where an innovative project titled “Jugend auftanken” was presented, focusing on the conversion of a former gas station into a space for young people. This example impressively demonstrated how creative ideas can contribute to revitalizing peripheral regions.
In the afternoon, the program included a guided tour of the Thayatal National Park around Hardegg. In addition to an introduction at the National Park Center, the group took a short hike along the Hennerweg trail and gained insights into nature conservation, landscape development, and sustainable tourism.
The day concluded with a visit to Uherčice Castle before returning to Znojmo.
Day 3: Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape
On the third and final day, the group traveled to Mikulov. During a walking tour of the town, they explored the historical structures and urban development of this significant South Moravian town. After lunch, the group continued on to Lednice, where they explored the expansive landscape park.
The area around Lednice and Valtice is an outstanding example of a designed cultural landscape in which architecture, garden art, and landscape planning form a unique unity. Additional stops in the region provided further insights into this UNESCO World Heritage Site before the excursion concluded in Břeclav in the late afternoon.
Conclusion
The excursion not only provided an opportunity to become acquainted with different spatial and architectural contexts, but also to learn from one another and gain new perspectives. The cross-border exchange between students from TU Wien and TU Brno proved to be particularly enriching—both professionally and personally.