Pezinok: Wine, Culture and Trails in the Little Carpathians

Pezinok combines a history of winegrowing, historic sites and the landscapes of the Little Carpathians. The range extends from the Wine Museum and historic sites in Pezinok to viewpoints, nature areas and castles in the wider region.

Winegrowing and Culture in Pezinok

The Malokarpatská vínna cesta combines wine, landscapes, history and gastronomy in an area that includes Svätý Jur, Pezinok and Modra. The Malokarpatské Museum in Pezinok offers a focused introduction to the wine tradition: It presents the history of winegrowing in the Little Carpathians and offers experiential wine tastings. The winegrowing educational trail in Pezinok provides additional information about local wine, its history and its production. Historic sites are also part of the townscape. Šimák Castle in Pezinok is surrounded by a park. Wine tastings are offered in Pezinok during Vinobranie. In Modra, at Slovenská ľudová majolika, you can combine a guided tour with a workshop at the potter’s wheel. The town’s visitor attractions also include the Ignác Bizmayer Gallery, dedicated to the important Slovak ceramic artist Ignác Bizmayer.

Landscapes, Trails and Viewpoints

The Malé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area extends partly across the territory of Okres Pezinok. The western part of Okres Pezinok lies in the Pezinské Karpaty section of the Little Carpathians. Different types of trails are available for active exploration. The Veľká Homoľa lookout tower is open year-round and can be entered free of charge. The Harmónia recreation area near Modra is connected to Piesok and crossed by hiking and cycling trails. Modra–Piesok is also home to the natural swimming pool near Zochova chata; the grounds of Zochova chata also include a bike-park pump track. The Cyril and Methodius Route describes a longer connection through the region. Its fourth day leads from Svätý Jur via Pezinok to Modra and is more than 22 kilometres long. The fifth day leads from Modra via Zochova chata to Červený Kameň Castle. These two stages illustrate different travel choices: one connects several towns along a route of more than 22 kilometres, while the other leads from Modra further into the landscape and on to a castle.

Historic Sites and Nature Reserve

Svätý Jur was granted the status of an urban heritage reserve in 1990. The remains of the Neštich hillfort, dating from the Great Moravian period, have also been preserved there. The Svätojurský educational trail consists of an urban circular route and a nature circular route, thereby combining two different ways of exploring the town. The Šúr reserve provides a special natural highlight. It contains the only original alder-forest habitat of this type in Central Europe. Červený Kameň Castle offers another cultural highlight; it served as a family residence for almost four hundred years. In Budmerice, the Budmerický kaštieľ is set in an impressive English park; the building also has a tall tower with a viewing gallery and a clock in the gable. For further orientation within the region, Limbach, Bösing, Báhoň, Dubová, Slovenský Grob and Píla are also available. As a winter attraction, Pezinská Baba is one of Slovakia’s best-known ski areas.

For the overarching travel overview: Bratislava.