Kuřim: History and Trails

Kuřim offers several starting points for planning a trip: church and castle history, insights into the Second World War, themed trails, and seasonal leisure activities. Which focus suits your stay depends on whether you want to explore historic sites, take a route, or plan leisure activities.

Church, Castle, and Local History

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene was founded in 1226 by King Přemysl Otakar I and originally built in the Romanesque style. After being looted by the Swedes at the end of the Thirty Years’ War, it was rebuilt in its present-day late Baroque form from 1766 to 1772. It is also a venue for cultural events, particularly organ and vocal concerts. If you are considering attending a concert, check the event dates in advance.

Kuřim’s original fortress was converted into a Renaissance castle in 1592–1594. Its courtyard is used for public celebrations, music and theater performances, and screenings at a summer cinema; the program may change. The castle’s exhibition “Kuřim – At the Crossroads of Routes” presents the city’s history from the Stone Age onward. Its entrance is in the castle courtyard, Křížkovského 48/2. Check the latest event and visitor information before your visit.

Wartime Heritage and Historical Insights

The Kuřim tunnels form an underground passage system that was created at the end of the Second World War. During the bombing and final battles in late April and early May 1945, they served as shelter for 2,000 to 3,000 residents of Kuřim and neighboring municipalities. Information about visits is available by email at stoly@kurim.cz. The number of participants is limited for safety reasons.

Another historical perspective is offered by the Četnická stanice, a gendarmerie station from the First Republic period. A group of history enthusiasts presents the history of the gendarmerie there.

Themed Trails and Nature

The Zárubou a Horkou educational trail crosses the summits of the two wooded hills, Záruby and Horky, above Kuřim. Established in 2005, it has seven stops with carved information boards. Topics range from Kuřim’s landscape and local development to views of the peaks of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands and extinct species.

The Kuřimská hora educational trail offers a different time scale: it is 1.6 kilometers long and designed for about 1.5 hours of leisurely walking. Ten information boards cover forestry and natural history, complemented by interactive features. The trail is accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, is considered moderately difficult, and is suitable for families with small children as well as seniors. Accessibility may vary depending on the weather and maintenance; check conditions before your trip. If you are choosing between the two educational trails, this one offers a stated duration and interactive nature topics, while the other features two wooded summits and seven carved stops.

The Srpek pond is in Kuřim’s western recreational area, where a walking path runs alongside a biotope. Several cycling routes around the pond connect it with nearby villages. At the foot of Kuřimská hora hill, there is also the Water Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk. A spring flows from a niche in the lower part of the chapel.

Seasonal Leisure Activities

The outdoor pool at the Wellness Kuřim summer complex operates seasonally. It has a 50-meter pool, a ten-meter family slide, and a children’s paddling pool; the outdoor pool complex also includes two beach volleyball courts. The Wellness Kuřim aquapark has a leisure pool with a white-water channel and a swimming pool with four lanes. Before your visit, check which facilities will be available on your chosen date, as amenities may change or be temporarily unavailable.

Discover More Destinations

Úsuší, Česká, Níhov, Prace, Šlapanice, Rajhradice, Tišnov, Viničné Šumice

For the broader travel overview: Brno-Country District.