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The village of Čížov is a tiny settlement near Národní park Podyjí, the smallest national park in the Czech Republic, and the only national park in Moravia. The park follows the course of the Dyje – or Thaya – river between the historic town of Vranov nad Dyjí and the city of Znojmo. The area is characterized by an otherwise rolling landscape, which suddenly falls steeply down along the valley of the winding river. Lush – though often very young – forests of oak, beech and other deciduous trees fill this tranquil biome, which covers 63 square

The wine flowed freely and the music played until the small hours at the annual costume ball in the town of Vlčnov last Saturday. The ball annually launches the reign of the new boy-king elected by the young men who’d come of age the previous year. The centuries old tradition, which culminates with the Ride of the Kings in May, is on UNESCO’s cultural heritage list.