ABOUT THE FESTIVITIES
You know - you are constantly looking for new experiences and adventures and you travel all over the world to find them, until you realize that you have a treasure under your own roof that the world should know about. For Hustopeče, this treasure is not only great wines, but also almond trees, the cultivation of which has a long history in Hustopeče. And where else can you taste the best almond products than in the heart of vineyards and almond trees? Come and see the largest almond orchard in Central Europe and combine your visit with great wine and selected food!
SOMETHING FROM THE HISTORY OF ALMONDS
IN HUSTOPEČE
Almond orchards regularly welcome spring with the first flowers and invite you to take a walk and hike to the lookout tower. Previously, however, almond orchards in Hustopeče were associated with confectioners rather than tourists. After the war, three hundred wagons of almonds were imported into the republic annually. However, socialist Czechoslovakia was supposed to be self-sufficient in almond production. In Hustopeče, there was free land left after the deported Germans. So the regional national committee decided - we will grow almonds here. The first planting was carried out in 1949. The beginnings were quite rough, however. Nobody knew how to grow almonds or harvest them. The first plantings were uncultivated seedlings, so the seeds were collected. After the first harvest, no one knew what to do with them. Local orchardists had to learn everything gradually. Over the years, the Hustopeče almond orchards became part of the Zora Olomouc Chocolate Factory. Hustopečské almonds appeared in various confectionery products. The first big harvest was in 1967, and as soon as the cultivated almond trees, of which there were about 17 thousand, grew, around 60 square meters of clean kernels were harvested in the orchards. However, in addition to the kernels, the shells could also be used. For example, for heating thanks to their high calorific value, or in the transport industry.
WHERE DID ALMONDS COME FROM IN THE HUSTOPEČE?
Hustopečecan be found in South Moravia - a very warm region. The history of almond cultivation in Hustopeče dates back to the 17th century. However, the first large-scale plantings began after 1949. This was mainly to prevent almonds from being imported from other - primarily capitalist - countries (Spain, Italy or Greece). That is why almond orchards were born in Hustopeče, where you could find over 50 thousand almond trees at their peak. Gradually, however, almond orchards began to give way to apricots and economic conditions also changed. No one was interested in the harvest from the orchards, so they remained completely unused and unmaintained. In the end, only two orchards with an area of 4 hectares remained. After the change of owners, these orchards were in danger of disappearing completely. Rescue arrived in five minutes twelve from the Hustopeče town hall, which took care of saving this Central European rarity. Of the original 50,000 trees, only a thousand remain. Since 2015, around a hundred new trees have been planted each year.
OUTINGS TO THE ALMOND FLOWERS
The most interesting point of the festival program is certainly a walk to the unique almond orchards, of which we are rightly proud! The five-kilometer route, the Almond Trail, will take you there, lined with stations with tasks and refreshments.
And what awaits you at the finish line? In addition to the reward for completing the tasks, you will appreciate the beautiful view of the surroundings, almond orchards, almond refreshments and perhaps a hike to the lookout tower. It was designed by architects Martin Novák and Antonín Olšina and its total height reaches 17.4 meters. From the lookout point of the lookout tower, you will have a wonderful view not only of nearby Pálava, but of the entire landscape full of vineyards, orchards and picturesque villages.
On the Almond Tourist Trail, two almond orchards, seven information boards and four wooden benches await you, where you can relax.
Don't forget to reward yourself with a glass of wine in one of the local cellars after your walk.
HEART OF ALMOND TREE AND VINEYARD
Wine in Hustopeče has a long tradition and has always been a significant source of pleasure and livelihood for the local townspeople. The vineyards around Hustopeče covered an area of over 1,350 hectares, but after World War II, local viticulture began to decline significantly. In the 1960s, their area was only 89 hectares. Today, the situation has improved somewhat, and vineyards can be found on 273 hectares. The quality of local wines is also constantly increasing, which is why wine lovers will find their place here. Hustopeče winemakers grow their grapes very sensitively, with respect for the landscape and the environment. For example, they reduce yields on individual bushes to ensure the best harvest or try to use vineyard protection products that are more gentle and therefore more ecological.