Vizovice
The capital of Czech plum brandy, where households still distil their own fruit at a licensed still.
Updated 19 October 2026
Slivovice - plum brandy - is the spirit of eastern Moravia and Vizovice is where it is centred: the Rudolf Jelinek distillery was founded here in 1894 and became the largest producer, exporting widely, and it runs tours through the production and the ageing cellars with tastings. Alongside the industrial product sits a practice that surprises visitors: Czech law allows households to bring their own fruit to a licensed pestirna, a contract still, and have it distilled for their own use up to a limit, paying reduced duty, so families across this region grow plums, ferment the mash in autumn and take it to be run off - the resulting home slivovice is a matter of local pride and comparison. Vizovice also has a baroque chateau with furnished rooms and a park, and it hosts the Masters of Rock festival, one of the largest in the country.
History
Vizovice is first mentioned in 1261, as a property of the newly founded Smilheim monastery; the monastery and village were badly damaged in the Hussite Wars, and the Cistercian house was finally abolished in 1485, under the Lords of Kunštát. In 1567 Zdeněk Kavka of Říčany bought the estate and built a Renaissance residence called Nový Smilheim within the old monastery's fortified area, and in 1570 Emperor Maximilian II made Vizovice a town, starting a period of flourishing crafts; slivovitz has been made here since the 16th century. In the second half of the 17th century the Gollen family acquired the estate, and soon afterwards Turkish raiders burned the town and the castle. In 1749-1770 Count Hermann Hannibal of Blümegen built a new Baroque castle with French and English gardens (Wikipedia, Vizovice).
Highlights
- The Jelinek distillery - founded 1894, with tours of production and ageing cellars.
- Contract stills - households distilling their own fruit under licence, a living practice.
- A baroque chateau - furnished rooms and a park in the town.
- A large rock festival - Masters of Rock, held here each summer.
When to go
May to September; autumn for the distilling season. A day.
Good to know
Distillery tours are booked and timed with age limits. Home slivovice offered by locals is strong and refusing takes tact. Festival week fills the town completely.
Nearby
Zlin is twelve kilometres west; Luhacovice is south.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q1008610, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Vizovice
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- A reusable bag or container - For market produce and cutting down on packaging. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- Wet wipes + hand sanitiser - Street food and washbasins do not always go together. Find on Amazon
- A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon
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