Dry Stone Walling Course
This one-day hands-on dry stone walling course takes place in Novosedly, South Moravia, Czech Republic and is open to participants travelling from across Europe and beyond. You do not need previous experience with stone – everything is explained step by step and practised directly on site.
- 🪨 International participants are welcome – you can travel to the course with confidence even from far away
- 👷 The course is led on site by an experienced Czech stonework instructor
- 🌍 A professional English interpreter will be present throughout the course
- ⚒️ All stone, tools and practical equipment are provided
- 🥪 Refreshments and on-site facilities are available throughout the day
- 🧾 You will receive a certificate of course completion and practical experience you can use on your own project
You will be looked after throughout the day, so you can focus fully on learning and working with stone.
€4990
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the booking work?
Choose the course date that suits you, enter the participant’s name 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, a dry stone wall made of natural stone, a wall at a cottage or a smaller stone feature around your home 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 who teaches in Czech. A professional English interpreter is present throughout the course, so you can follow the explanations, ask questions and discuss your own project comfortably 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 a proper understanding of the basic principles.
- You will learn the principles of dry stone wall construction without mortar, concrete or unnecessary shortcuts.
- You will understand foundations, batter and wall stability so that the structure makes sense both technically and from a craftsmanship perspective.
- You will work with stone with your own hands directly on site under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
- You will learn how to select suitable stones for the foundation, face, bonding, hearting and top of the wall.
- You will learn to recognise mistakes that beginners often overlook and that can cause dry stone walls to spread, bulge or collapse.
- You will receive a certificate and, most importantly, the confidence to approach your own stone wall project correctly.
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 would rather learn the correct principles before starting.
It is also useful for gardeners, tradespeople, stonemasons, small construction companies, designers and landscape architects. If you design or build gardens, slopes, stone features or natural stone walls, the course will help you understand what is technically correct and what works in practice over the long term.
The course is suitable for complete beginners. You do not need previous experience with stone. What matters more is the willingness to work with your hands, pay attention to detail and understand the principles behind the craft.
International participants are welcome. You do not need to speak Czech. The instructor teaches in Czech and a professional interpreter provides English translation throughout the day.
What you will learn
We begin with the most important question: how a dry stone wall actually stands. We will explain the basic 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 the actual construction. You will learn how to select suitable stones, lay the first course, build the visible face of the wall, use through stones, fill the core and gradually raise the structure so that it is strong, natural and built according to sound craftsmanship principles.
An important part of the course is learning to recognise mistakes. We will show you why walls bulge, why stones tilt outwards, why poor bonding fails and why every stone needs to be considered as part of the entire structure.
Dry stone wall construction step by step
The aim of the course is not simply to show you a finished wall. The aim is to help you understand the entire process, from the first stone to the final coping. It is the correct sequence of these individual steps that determines whether the wall will be strong, stable and naturally beautiful.
Foundation and first course
You will learn why the first course is critical, how to prepare the base, how to seat the stones correctly and why the stability of the wall is determined from the very first stages of construction.
Bonding and wall structure
We will show you how to bond stones together, why continuous vertical joints should be avoided and how to work with different sizes of stone so that the wall functions as one complete structure.
Face, hearting and coping
You will understand the difference between face stones, internal hearting and the top finish. You will learn how to complete the wall so that it looks solid and properly crafted.
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 type of stone is genuinely suitable for dry stone construction and how to place it correctly in the wall.
During the course, you will see why some stones belong in the foundation, others in the face, others as bonding stones, and why some are better left unused altogether. You will learn to think about shape, centre of gravity, face, support 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 that 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 one belongs in the face? When should a stone be turned? When should it be shaped? When is it better not to use it at all?
This is where the difference emerges between someone who merely stacks stones and someone who truly understands dry stone wall construction.
What you will actually take away from the course
You will not leave having simply watched a demonstration. You will leave with real hands-on experience from working on site. You will know how to start a dry stone wall, how to build it course by course and how to approach your own project around your home, garden or property.
- you will understand the principle of dry construction without mortar,
- you will learn how to select and place suitable stones,
- you will practise building the foundation course, wall face, hearting and coping,
- you will recognise the mistakes that cause dry stone walls to spread or collapse,
- you will gain confidence for your own stone wall project,
- you will 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 practical instruction is delivered in Czech by Luděk Komoň, an experienced stone builder and instructor. A professional English interpreter is present throughout the course, translating the explanations and helping with questions and individual consultations.
- We explain the principles of dry stone walling, stability, batter, bonding and working with stone.
- We show you how to select suitable stones for the foundation, face, hearting and coping.
- We prepare the base and lay the first course of the wall.
- We build the individual courses, bond the stones and work on the overall stability of the structure.
- You will try shaping stone and working with the necessary tools.
- At the end, we show you how to finish the top of the wall and go through the most common practical mistakes.
There is plenty of time for questions throughout the day. You can discuss your own project, type of stone, wall height, slope, foundation, tools, pricing or professional stonework.
Travelling from abroad? We can help with the practical arrangements
We regularly welcome participants who travel a long distance to attend the course. If you are coming from another country, please contact us before booking your travel and we will help you with the practical details.
Accommodation is available in and around Novosedly, including options within easy reach of the course location. We can recommend suitable accommodation according to your travel plans.
If required, we may also be able to arrange transport from Brno Airport or Vienna International Airport by prior agreement. This is not part of the standard course package, so please contact us in advance if you would like to discuss this option.
Our goal is to make your journey as straightforward as possible, so that once you arrive you can focus entirely on the course and working with stone.
What is included in the course price
- hands-on dry stone walling instruction,
- professional English interpretation throughout the course,
- stone for use during the course,
- tools and working equipment available to borrow,
- on-site facilities, seating, toilet and refreshments,
- time for individual questions and consultation about your own project,
- the opportunity to discuss tools, construction methods, materials and pricing,
- a certificate of course completion.
All you need to bring is sturdy footwear and work clothes. You do not need your own tools. Stone, tools, facilities and refreshments are all 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. The most expensive mistake is misunderstanding the construction principle. If the wall does not have the correct foundation, bonding, batter and stability, it may look good only for a short time.
One day on the course can save you many hours of uncertainty, repairs and unnecessary work. Before you start building your own dry stone wall, come and practise the correct method first.
You can also discuss your own project
If you are already planning a specific stone wall, dry stone wall, slope, garden edging, small retaining structure or landscaping project, bring photos, a sketch or a simple plan with you.
We can look together at the type of stone, wall height, foundations, terrain and how best to approach the construction. Thanks to the English interpreter, international participants can discuss technical details and their own projects directly with the instructor.
For tradespeople and construction companies, it can also make sense to discuss pricing, tools, material consumption, work organisation and how to offer this service 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, the schedule for the day and practical arrival instructions.
If you are travelling from abroad and need help with accommodation or transport, contact us as early as possible. We can recommend accommodation and, by prior agreement, discuss possible transport from Brno or Vienna airport.
The course takes place outdoors and is hands-on. Facilities, refreshments, tools, stone and everything you need for the 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, where you will handle the material yourself, understand the basic principles of dry construction and see that a good stone wall does not happen by accident. It is created through stone selection, bonding, patience and respect for the craft.
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. If you need help with accommodation or travel arrangements, simply contact us in advance.
Can’t make it to Novosedly? We also offer an online course
If you live too far away, the available dates do not suit you or you would prefer to go through the process at your own pace, you can also take our online dry stone walling course. It is a digital version that guides you through the entire construction process step by step.
What the online course includes
- 11 detailed video lessons,
- 2 additional bonus videos,
- lifetime access to the course,
- access to a private participant community.
What you will see
- how to select stone,
- how to lay the first course,
- how to build the courses of a dry stone wall,
- how to deal with stability, appearance and the most common mistakes.
Who it is suitable for
The online course is suitable for people who do not want to travel, want to revisit the material several times or want to prepare before starting their own project.
