The village of Rakvice (German: Rakwitz) is located in the district of Břeclav in the South Moravian Region. Approximately 2,200 inhabitants live here. Rakvice is an important wine-growing center belonging to the Velkopavlovice wine-growing sub-region. There are a number of wineries and smaller family wineries in the village.
Church of St. John the Baptist – Originally the chapel of St. Ondřeje
built sometime between 1310 and 1346. In 1503 the chapel was elevated to
a parish church. In 1605, the Bočkajovci church was burned down, only
the tower and bare walls remained. The church was restored in the second
half of the 17th century (the purchase contract for the sale of the
Hodonín estate from 1692 mentions that the church has already been
restored) and was subsequently dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Due to
the small capacity, the church was expanded in 1875. The height of the
tower including the mine is 33.66 m.
Statue of St. John of Nepomuck –
Work of sculptor Tomáš Schweigl from 1775, purchased at the expense of
the municipality 40 guilders and Jan Březina 45 guilders.
Baroque
Cross - Missionary Cross from 1803 with cryptogram.
The name evolved from the variant Raekwitz (1248), Rakuuiz (1292), Vrakbicz, Vkrawicz (1354), Oerakwicz (1357), Verekwicz (1358), Vrkwicz (1414), Rakwicz (1447, 1558), Rakwicze (1609), Rakwitz (1633. The naming is feminine, the number is plural, the genitive is Rakvic.
Approximately in the places where the village of
Rakvice lies today, but rather closer to the flow of the Dyje, there
was a Slavic settlement until about the 13th century. This is
evidenced by several finds of Slavic pottery.
The first
written mention of the village Rakvice comes from November 6, 1248,
when Prince Oldřich III. Carinthian donated four estates in Rakvice
to the Čejkovice Templars. In the years 1430 to 1434, the chapel of
St. was built in Rakvice. Andrew. In 1498, a cemetery was
established near the chapel.
In 1540, Habans settled in
Rakvice. In 1582, the Catholic priest Albrecht left Rakvice and was
replaced by the Czech parish priest Jan Černovín. In 1605, Rakvice
was looted by an army led by Štěpán Bočkaj. At the end of the Thirty
Years' War in 1648, Rakvice had only 180 inhabitants, compared to
510 before the war. At the end of the 17th century, however, Rakvice
began to be repopulated. According to the purchase contract (sale of
the Hodonín estate) dated September 29, 1692, the church and school
in Rakvice were restored. The bell of the church was cast in 1668.
In 1762, Emperor Francis I bought the Hodonín estate, including
the village of Rakvice. In 1777, houses were numbered in Rakvice. On
May 24, 1788, the head of the village, headed by the mayor Jan
Cabal, confirmed the Josephine cadastre of the village of Rakvice.
In 1793 928 inhabitants lived in Rakvice and in 1840 1172
inhabitants. In 1866, a Prussian garrison of soldiers was
established in Rakvice, which brought cholera to Rakvice. From
August 1 to September 20, 1866, 146 citizens of Rakvice died of
cholera. The Rakvice cemetery was not enough, so it was buried in a
remote cemetery behind the manor.
Although the Břeclav - Brno
railway line was put into operation in July 1839, the village of
Rakvice did not receive its railway stop until 1886, when the
village released 600 gold coins from the budget. In 1932, a burgher
school was built in Rakvice. On May 26, 1936, the pupils of the
primary school in Rakvice went on a trip to Pálava. Along the way,
children with cars had to be transported by barge across the river
Dyje. The first two cars were transported in good condition, while
the third car was transported, the barge sank. 31 children drowned
in this tragedy.
On Sunday, April 15, 1945, the village of
Rakvice was liberated by the Red Army.
Highway D2 and road II/425 pass through the territory of the
municipality in the Hustopeče - Břeclav section. Road III also leads
here. classes:
III/42113 Velké Pavlovice - Velké Bílovice
III/42115 from road III/42113 via Rakvice to Přítluky
III/42116
(Square)
III/42226 Freak - Casket
Autonomy
Petr Vajbar
served as mayor from the beginning of the 1990s. At the founding meeting
of the council in November 2014, Radek Průdek (Sdružení pro Rakvice) was
elected to this position.
Rakvice is a small municipality and village located in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, specifically within the Břeclav District. It lies in the Lower Morava Valley, a fertile lowland area that forms part of the broader Morava River Basin. Geographically, Rakvice is positioned approximately 12 kilometers north of the town of Břeclav and 40 kilometers south of Brno, the regional capital. Its coordinates are 48°51′29″N 16°48′48″E. The village covers an area of about 15.5 square kilometers and is situated in a transitional zone between the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands to the north and the Pannonian Plain influences to the south, contributing to its predominantly agricultural character. This location places it in one of the warmest and most fertile parts of the Czech Republic, ideal for viticulture and farming.
The terrain of Rakvice is predominantly flat, typical of the lowland valleys in South Moravia. It features wide, open plains with gentle undulations, lacking significant hills or mountains, which aligns with the regional composition where plains, plateaus, and valleys make up about 51% of the Morava River Basin. The landscape is heavily shaped by human activity, dominated by expansive agricultural fields, vineyards, and orchards. This flat relief facilitates easy accessibility and has historically supported intensive farming. In broader terms, the area transitions from the hilly Bohemian-Moravian Highlands to the north into the flatter lowlands influenced by the Danube Basin to the south. Notable landscape elements include patchwork fields of crops like wheat, corn, and sunflowers, interspersed with rows of grapevines, reflecting its position in the Velkopavlovická wine subregion. The overall scenery is rural and open, with minimal forested areas, emphasizing cultivated land over natural wilderness.
Rakvice sits at an average elevation of 164 meters (538 feet) above sea level, which is relatively low compared to the more elevated regions of the Czech Republic, such as the Bohemian Highlands or the Sudetes. This low elevation contributes to the area's mild topography and susceptibility to flooding in river valleys, though modern water management mitigates much of this risk. The surrounding Lower Morava Valley maintains similar elevations, generally below 200 meters, fostering a stable environment for agriculture without the challenges of steep slopes or high-altitude climates.
The climate in Rakvice is classified as temperate continental, influenced by its lowland position in South Moravia, one of the warmest regions in the Czech Republic. Summers are typically warm to hot, with average July temperatures around 20–22°C (68–72°F), while winters are moderately cold, with January averages hovering between -1°C and -3°C (30–26°F). Annual precipitation is moderate, ranging from 500–600 mm, with most rainfall occurring in the summer months. This climate is conducive to viticulture, as the area benefits from a longer growing season and ample sunshine—often exceeding 1,800 hours annually—due to its southern exposure and protection from colder northern winds by the highlands. Frost-free periods extend from mid-April to mid-October, supporting the cultivation of heat-loving crops like grapes. Climate change impacts, such as increasing temperatures and variable rainfall, are noted in the region, potentially enhancing wine production but also raising concerns about drought.
Hydrologically, Rakvice is defined by the Trkmanka River, a small waterway that flows through the municipality, contributing to local irrigation and drainage. This river is a tributary within the larger Morava River system, which ultimately feeds into the Danube. The area is also rich in artificial and natural water bodies, including numerous fishponds that dot the landscape, remnants of historical water management practices for aquaculture and flood control. These ponds enhance biodiversity, supporting fish species like carp and providing habitats for waterfowl. Groundwater resources are abundant due to the valley's alluvial deposits, aiding agriculture. The flat terrain and proximity to the Morava River (about 10–15 km east) mean occasional influences from river flooding, though dikes and reservoirs in the region help regulate water levels.
Soils in Rakvice are predominantly fertile chernozems, characterized by their dark, rich organic content and high productivity, common in the drier lowland areas of Moravia. These soils are formed from loess deposits and alluvial materials, offering excellent drainage and nutrient retention, which underpin the area's agricultural dominance. In wetter spots near rivers and ponds, alluvial soils prevail, while occasional podzols appear in slightly elevated or forested patches, though these are minimal. Vegetation is largely anthropogenic, with cultivated vineyards and crop fields replacing natural grasslands. Native flora includes steppe-like grasses and herbs in uncultivated areas, with scattered deciduous trees such as oaks and poplars along watercourses. The region's biodiversity is moderate, focused on agricultural ecosystems, with efforts to preserve wetland habitats around the fishponds.
Rakvice's geography lacks dramatic natural features like mountains or caves but is notable for its integrated cultural-natural landscape, particularly the extensive vineyards that cover much of the surrounding terrain, forming part of the South Moravian wine trails. The fishponds represent a key environmental asset, promoting wetland ecosystems in an otherwise farmed area. The village lies within the broader Pálava Protected Landscape Area influence to the south, known for limestone hills and diverse flora, though Rakvice itself is flatter. Environmental concerns include soil erosion from intensive farming and water quality in the Trkmanka due to agricultural runoff. Overall, the geography supports a sustainable mix of agriculture and eco-tourism, with cycling paths traversing the flat valleys and connecting to nearby natural reserves.