Dry Stone Walling Course
- Learn dry stone walling from start to finish – foundations, stone selection, bonding, hearting and coping.
- Learn from a craftsman with 30 years of experience – build with your own hands and get guidance and corrections directly at the wall.
- Follow the course in English – interpretation is delivered through an earpiece, so you can watch the demonstration and ask questions without language barriers.
- No experience needed – the course is designed for beginners and everything is explained step by step.
- Stone, tools, protective equipment, lunch and refreshments are provided – the course runs under cover in all weather.
- Discuss your own project with us – construction details, stone selection and material quantities. Certificate included.
- Travelling from abroad? See the location, nearby airports and travel options.
€219
How does the booking work?
Choose the course date that suits you and add the course to your cart.
At checkout, enter your details and confirm your order. You will receive an immediate confirmation by email.
Once payment has been received, your place on the course is fully reserved.
Approximately one week before the course, we will send you the practical information and schedule.
On the day of the course, the facilities, materials and instructor will all be ready for you.
Where does the course take place?
Novosedly, South Moravia, Czech Republic
48°49’51.7″N 16°30’07.1″E
The course takes place in Novosedly near Mikulov, in the South Moravian wine region of the Czech Republic.
Parking is available along the property or directly on site.
If you are travelling from abroad, accommodation is available in Novosedly and the surrounding area. We can recommend suitable options according to your travel plans.
By prior arrangement, we may also be able to organise transport from Vienna International Airport or Brno Airport. If you need help with accommodation or your journey to the course, please contact us before travelling.
What if it rains?
The course takes place outdoors, but you do not need to worry about the weather disrupting the day.
- We have a large covered tent that provides a comfortable base and protects participants from both sun and rain.
- Thanks to this covered area, the course can take place in changing weather conditions without affecting the planned programme.
- Your place and the course schedule remain confirmed even if the weather is not perfect.
What if I can’t attend after all?
We understand that plans can change. For this reason, our cancellation policy is clearly defined in advance:
- If you cancel more than 30 calendar days before the course date, we will refund 50% of the course fee.
- If you cancel 30 to 15 calendar days before the course begins, we will refund 25% of the course fee.
- If you cancel 14 calendar days or less before the course begins, the course fee is non-refundable.
What about food and drinks?
During the course, you will be well looked after throughout the day. Drinking water, chilled Coca-Cola, coffee and light refreshments are available at all times.
At lunchtime, we take a break for a hot meal – usually a traditional schnitzel with bread – and there is always something else available to eat as well.
Toilets, a covered rest area and a place to relax in the shade are also available on site.
Is the course suitable for beginners and women?
Yes. The course is suitable for complete beginners and is also suitable for women. Everything is explained step by step through practical work, you work under the guidance of the instructor, and the pace is adapted to the group.
It is worth keeping in mind that this is still manual outdoor work with natural stone, so a basic level of physical fitness is helpful.
Instructor Luděk Komoň will show you proven techniques and share practical experience from real stonework projects.
You will receive individual guidance and plenty of time to discuss your own projects.
Tools, equipment, refreshments, water, coffee and on-site facilities are all provided – you do not need to arrange anything yourself.
You will receive a certificate and gain a practical skill that is difficult to learn elsewhere, with strong practical and financial value.
Learn how to build a dry stone wall without mortar using the correct method
Are you planning a stone wall in your garden, at a cottage or as part of a landscaping project and want to know how to start correctly? With a dry stone wall, strength alone is not enough. What matters most is stone selection, foundations, bonding, batter, stability and understanding how stone behaves within the structure.
In our practical dry stone walling course in Novosedly, South Moravia, Czech Republic, you will go through the entire process step by step. The course is open to participants from across Europe and beyond, and no previous stoneworking experience is required.
The practical instruction is led by an experienced Czech stonework instructor with 30 years of experience. Professional English interpretation is provided throughout the course, so you can follow the demonstrations, ask questions and discuss your own project in English.
A dry stone wall is not just a pile of stones. It is a crafted structure that stands because of correct placement, bonding, the weight of the stone and an understanding of the basic principles.
- Learn the principles of dry stone wall construction without mortar.
- Understand foundations, batter and wall stability from both a technical and craftsmanship perspective.
- Work with stone with your own hands under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
- Learn how to select suitable stones for the foundation, face, bonding, hearting and coping.
- Recognise common mistakes that can cause dry stone walls to spread, bulge or collapse.
- Gain practical experience and receive a certificate to help you approach your own project correctly.
Travelling from abroad? Getting here is easier than it may look
The course takes place in Novosedly in South Moravia, in the heart of Central Europe, close to the Austrian and Slovak borders.
For most participants travelling from neighbouring European countries, coming by car is the simplest option. The course location can be opened directly in Google Maps, and parking is available at or near the site.
Open the course location in Google Maps
You do not need to fly to attend. The map simply shows the location in a wider European context. If you prefer to travel by air, Vienna and Brno airports are both practical options, and onward transport can be discussed with us in advance.
Accommodation is available in and around Novosedly, and we can recommend suitable options depending on how you are travelling.
Before the course, you will also receive practical arrival information and the exact location, so you will know where to go before you set off.
Who the course is for
This course is for anyone who wants to understand dry stone wall construction in practice. It is ideal for homeowners, garden owners and DIY builders who want to build their own wall and learn the correct principles before starting.
It is also useful for gardeners, tradespeople, stonemasons, construction companies, designers and landscape architects working with gardens, slopes, stone features or natural stone walls.
The course is suitable for complete beginners. You do not need previous experience with stone. What matters is the willingness to work with your hands and understand the principles behind the craft.
You do not need to speak Czech. Professional English interpretation is provided throughout the course, allowing you to follow the instructor, ask questions and take part comfortably.
What you will learn
We begin with the most important question: how a dry stone wall actually stands. We explain the principles of stability, batter, bonding, centre of gravity and why simply stacking stones on top of one another is not enough.
Then we move on to construction. You will learn how to select suitable stones, lay the first course, build the visible face, use through stones, fill the hearting and gradually raise the wall so that it remains strong and stable.
An important part of the course is learning to recognise mistakes. We show you why walls bulge, why stones tilt outwards, why poor bonding fails and why every stone needs to work as part of the entire structure.
Dry stone wall construction step by step
The aim is not simply to show you a finished wall. You will understand the entire process, from the first stone to the final coping. The correct sequence of these steps determines whether the wall will be strong, stable and naturally beautiful.
Foundation and first course
You will learn how to prepare the base, seat the first stones correctly and establish a stable foundation for everything above.
Bonding and wall structure
We show you how to bond stones, avoid continuous vertical joints and combine different sizes so the wall works as one structure.
Face, hearting and coping
You will understand the role of face stones, internal hearting and the final coping that completes the wall.
Before ordering stone for your wall, learn how to use it correctly
Many people begin by searching for quarry stone, natural walling stone, sandstone, granite or split stone. But the material alone is not enough. You also need to know which stone is suitable for dry stone construction and how to place it correctly.
During the course, you will see why some stones belong in the foundation, others in the face or as bonding stones, and why some are better left unused. You will learn to consider shape, centre of gravity, bearing surface and how each stone connects to the next.
Before you start building with stone, it pays to understand the principle. A badly selected or poorly positioned stone can compromise the entire wall.
Craftsmanship is not about finding a stone that fits. It is about knowing why it fits
When building a dry stone wall, it is not enough to pick up one stone after another and hope everything works out. Every stone has its own shape, centre of gravity, face, back and a position where it makes the most sense.
During the course, you will learn to look at stone through the eyes of a craftsman. Which stone belongs in the foundation? Which belongs in the face? When should it be turned or shaped? When is it better not to use it at all?
This is the difference between simply stacking stones and understanding dry stone wall construction.
What you will actually take away from the course
You will not leave having simply watched a demonstration. You will have real hands-on experience from working with stone on site and understand how to approach your own wall correctly.
- understand dry construction without mortar,
- select and position suitable stones,
- build the foundation course, wall face, hearting and coping,
- recognise mistakes that can cause walls to spread or collapse,
- gain confidence for your own project,
- receive a certificate of course completion.
How the course works
The course takes place in Novosedly, South Moravia, Czech Republic. We usually start at 9:00 and finish at approximately 15:00. There is only as much theory as you need for the practical work. Most of the day is spent working directly with stone.
The instruction is led by a stonework instructor with 30 years of experience. Professional English interpretation is provided throughout the day, with the translation delivered through an earpiece so you can keep watching the instructor and practical demonstrations.
- We explain the principles of dry stone walling, stability, batter and bonding.
- We show you how to select stones for the foundation, face, hearting and coping.
- We prepare the base and lay the first course.
- We build the wall course by course and work on bonding and stability.
- You practise shaping stone and using the necessary tools.
- We complete the coping and discuss the most common mistakes.
There is time for questions throughout the day. You can also discuss your own project, stone, wall height, slope, foundations, tools, material quantities or professional stonework.
What is included in the course price
- hands-on dry stone walling instruction,
- professional English interpretation throughout the course,
- stone for practical work,
- tools and working equipment,
- protective equipment,
- lunch, drinks and refreshments,
- on-site facilities and toilet,
- individual questions and consultation about your own project,
- a certificate of course completion.
All you need to bring is suitable work clothing and sturdy footwear. Stone, tools and everything needed for the practical work are provided on site.
Why the course makes sense before starting your own project
The most expensive mistake in dry stone walling is not the stone. It is misunderstanding the construction principle.
If the wall does not have the correct foundation, bonding, batter and stability, it may look good for a while but problems can develop later.
One practical day can save you many hours of uncertainty, unnecessary work and repairs. Before starting your own wall, practise the correct method first.
You can also discuss your own project
If you are planning a specific stone wall, dry stone wall, slope, garden edging, retaining structure or landscaping project, bring photos, measurements, a sketch or a simple plan.
We can look at the stone, wall height, foundations, terrain and the best way to approach the construction. English interpretation allows international participants to discuss technical details directly with the instructor.
For tradespeople and construction companies, we can also discuss pricing, tools, material quantities, work organisation and offering stonework to customers.
What happens after you place your order
Once your order has been placed and paid for, your place is reserved.
Approximately one week before the course, we send you organisational information including the exact location, clothing recommendations, schedule and arrival instructions.
If you are travelling from abroad, you can also use the Google Maps location to plan your route in advance. If you need accommodation or are arriving by air, contact us and we will help with the practical options.
The course takes place outdoors and is hands-on. Covered facilities, refreshments, tools, stone and everything needed for practical work will be ready on site.
A course for people who want to build with stone with their own hands
This is not a theoretical lecture about stone. It is a day spent working on site, handling the material yourself and understanding why a good dry stone wall stands.
You will see how stone selection, foundations, bonding, stability, patience and craftsmanship work together.
If you want to learn how to build a dry stone wall correctly without mortar, this course will give you the practical foundation you need to start building.
Whether you are travelling from nearby or from another country, you can arrive knowing that the course, tools, stone, refreshments and English interpretation are organised for you.
