The burgher house “Old Bakery/ Stará Pekárna”, an authentic accommodation in South Moravia, has stood in the very heart of Znojmo since the 13th century.
The accommodation capacity is 25 guests in 7 unique apartments. A loft attic apartment will be added this year.
In the shared spaces of the hall, mázhaus, wine cellar and courtyard, it hosts not only conferences and teambuilding events for characterful teams, smaller weddings and celebrations in a limited edition, but also self‑development retreats, including yoga stays.
Thanks to its own professional kitchen and a space for culinary experiences in the unique setting of a black kitchen with a preserved oven, it provides breakfast and catering in cooperation with the best, including Michelin‑starred chefs.
Part of this unique little hotel is the Kabinet of Illustration – Photography, a gift shop of “Znojmo delicacies”, in other words Czechoslovak art and design – including the well‑known Bandaska vases by Studio Dechem. Illustrator Dagmar Skokanová and photographer Jakub Skokan from the BoysPlayNice collective have filled it, alongside their own work, with pieces created by their friends. Illustrations, photographs, books, jewellery, toys, vases and other design souvenirs with the Znojmo region as their leitmotif.
This design accommodation stands out thanks to a combination of various artistic styles from Gothic through Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism, evolving right up to the present day. Unique features of this boutique guesthouse include the cellar vault in the mázhaus, the preserved oven of the “Stará pekárna”, where bread was baked for 350 years, as well as a Gothic timber structure in the courtyard section of the house.
The current owners have been carefully restoring this cultural monument since 2015.
Enjoy the unique atmosphere of the house with a character!
Do not be discouraged by the old facade and enter, you will be thrilled.
STORY OF THE OLD BAKERY
The story of the revived Old Bakery begins in 2015, when David returns with his wife Valerie to his hometown after many years, and together they buy a dilapidated house from a private owner. Because this house was once a rental property where dozens of people lived, the goal is to bring it back to life. The house is listed among endangered cultural monuments, and it is clear that even an optimistic estimate of the renovation will take several decades. Yet the owners feel a sense of euphoria. The original floors and carpentry fixtures have remained in the house, as if time had stopped here. They take a leap of faith and embark on the renovation on their own.
There is beauty in simplicity... and above all, no fakes
Due to the size of the property and the requirements for heritage restoration and administration, Valerie and David set a clear direction. Preserve as much as possible, interfere as little as possible, find beauty in simplicity, and use only natural materials, above all no imitations.
In 2016 they renovate the first Romantic Chamber for themselves, but after the reactions of visitors, they open it for bookings. Guests are thrilled and motivate the owners to restore another room. This goes hand in hand with the owners’ goal of bringing people back into the house so they can step inside and experience its unique genius loci. Next comes the Nature Apartment, followed by other rooms, so that by 2020 a total of five apartments have been restored. At this point, craftsmen and temporary workers are already helping significantly.
Covid shuts down the world, but it allows Valerie and David to renovate the entrance with its magnificent vaulted cellar ceiling and, above all, to devote time to their daughter and family life.
After the restart, more parts of the house and apartments are already renovated, including the shared lounge areas. The courtyard and inner façade with the Lower Cabin room come next, along with the gradual replacement of windows.
In 2025 they embark on the cherry on top: the preserved black kitchen with its Gothic oven. Here a space is created for culinary gastro experiences under the direction of top Michelin-starred chefs, who give room to local quality suppliers of seasonal ingredients. The gastronomic sphere thus launches an entirely new direction at the Old Bakery. There is much to look forward to.
In 2026 extensive work continues in the attic, where the first guests will soon discover the beauty of a distinctive attic apartment with exposed beams.
The more local, the better
At Old Bakery it is possible to meet local suppliers. From cosmetics and wine to jams and ingredients for catering. When choosing the furnishings, it is also important either to give furniture a second life or to equip the space with Czech design.
The story of Old Bakery is being written even now, while these lines are being read; from the old, something new is emerging, once again inhabitable, a place to retreat to for a while and soak up whatever is needed at that moment.
Let's find some old house and explore it. Valerie on a school trip, about 13 years old
Valerie comes from an artistic family and has bakers among her ancestors. Her great-grandfather Ferdinand established the tradition of baking Štramberk ears. David, on the other hand, comes from a family of carpenters and a junk dealer. Both have carried within them since birth a relationship to craft, to the original, and to inner movement.
Before coming to Znojmo, Valerie and David lived in many countries, where they drew inspiration. They were influenced above all by France, where they discovered the magic of incorporating old "bits and pieces" into new interiors and the art de vivre, that is, seeing beauty in everyday details and in simplicity. They then spent two wonderful years in Taiwan. There they were inspired by the authenticity and living beauty of both nature and people. Taiwan gave them the space to reconnect with themselves, leave behind a lucrative life in Prague, and find their own path.
With these experiences, visions, and emotions, Stará Pekárna came into being. In these predominantly white and minimalist spaces, people should find calm, rest without the disturbance of external influences, and reconnect with themselves.