Brno-Country District: Monasteries, Castles and Countryside

In Brno-Country District, travel experiences range from medieval sites and monasteries to museum collections and protected landscapes. For your planning, it is worth starting with a question: should architecture and history shape your stay, or would you also like to include nature and cycling? The following sights and activities offer specific ideas to help you decide.

Castles and monastic architecture

At Pernštejn, visitors can walk through the chambers and climb the tower. Visiting options may vary depending on the season, so check current access arrangements before your trip. Film crews from around the world have also used Pernštejn as a filming location. Veveří developed over almost eight centuries and was substantially expanded under Margrave John Henry. The two castles thus represent different historical stories: at Pernštejn, the visiting options described are part of the experience, while at Veveří, its long development and expansion under the margrave draw attention to its architectural history.

Porta coeli in Předklášteří is considered one of the most important architectural monuments in the Czech Republic. The monastery was founded as a Cistercian nunnery in the 13th century. Its most striking features include the richly decorated Gothic portal and the chapter house with a stone reading lectern. The Podhorácké Museum is housed in the complex, in the former provost’s building; it has four permanent exhibitions and seasonal exhibitions. As the exhibition layout can change, it is a good idea to check the current offerings before your visit. The monastery complex also includes a monastic brewery with a beer-tasting menu. Check the current operating arrangements before your trip.

Rosa coeli also tells a long monastic story: the site was founded in 1181 for Premonstratensian nuns. You can explore it from the main nave to the surviving staircase, and visit as part of a guided historical tour; check the current tour arrangements in advance. Dolní Kounice Castle preserves architectural elements dating from the Gothic to the Renaissance periods. Anyone interested in architectural history can therefore see different styles represented in a single building.

Museums and local topics

In Rajhrad, the Memorial of Moravian Literature is housed in the monastery. The historic Benedictine library contains 65,000 volumes. Rajhrad Monastery can be reached by train from Brno; check the current timetable before travelling. This makes it possible to combine your visit with a look at the library’s history, brought to life by the size of its collection.

The Mining Museum in Oslavany features a full-size model of a mine gallery as well as a mining locomotive. Its topics range from geology and minerals to mining methods and the lives of miners. It therefore focuses not only on technology, but also on the people and working practices involved in mining. Židlochovice is known for growing apricots, which come from Výhon. An acacia observation tower stands on Výhon above Židlochovice. Together, these topics give you an idea of how museum visits, regional produce and a distinctive sight can be included in your travel plans.

Landscapes and routes

Bobrava Nature Park lies in wooded terrain along the middle course of the Bobrava stream, in the central part of the Bobrava Highlands. The protected area covers 30.90 km² and was designated in 1982. On Bučín Hill are the small remains of a medieval fortress, mentioned as early as 1349. The landscape thus brings together a specific description of nature and a visible historical connection, though the two need not be part of the same visitor experience.

The Tišnovsko Cycle Route passes through surroundings shaped by nature along the banks of the Svratka. Railway stops are located in the municipalities of Střelice, Omice, Tetčice and Radostice; check current rail services before travelling.

Plan your stay around your interests

If architecture and history are your main focus, the castles, monasteries and exhibitions offer a range of options; for nature and cycling, Bobrava’s wooded park and the Tišnovsko Cycle Route are relevant choices. Consider which experiences you would like to include, then base your hotel search on your travel plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Brezina, Ostrovačice, Vranov, Lomnicka, Přibyslavice U Velké Bíteše, Ricany, Predklasteri, Nedvedice, Boudy, Bilovice Nad Svitavou, Kobylnice, Dolní Loučky, Heroltice, Veverská Bítýška, Skryje, Hvozdec, Ochoz U Brna, Medlov, Omice, Žabčice, Želešice, Železné, Žďárec, Židlochovice, Blažovice, Blučina, Branišovice, Deblín, Dolní Kounice, Domašov, Doubravník, Čebín, Česká, Tišnov, Hrušovany U Brna, Ivančice, Jinačovice, Ketkovice, Kuřim, Kupařovice, Lomnice, Malešovice, Měnín, Modřice, Moutnice, Neslovice, Prštice, Nosislav, Nová Ves, Oslavany, Pasohlávky, Pozořice, Prace, Přibice, Příbram Na Moravě, Rajhrad, Rosice U Brna, Sentice, Šerkovice, Silůvky, Šlapanice, Sokolnice, Střelice, Šumice, Syrovice, Telnice U Brna, Tetčice, Ořechov, Těšany, Troubsko, Tvarožná, Újezd U Brna, Unín, Viničné Šumice, Vlasatice, Vohančice, Vysoké Popovice, Zbraslav, Zbýšov U Brna, Rajhradice, Lelekovice, Babice Nad Svitavou, Babice U Rosic, Běleč, Biskoupky, Kuřimské Jestřabí, Borač, Borovník, Braníškov, Bratčice, Brumov, Bukovice, Cvrčovice, Černvír, Úsuší, Čučice, Drahonín, Drásov, Hajany, Hlína, Hluboké Dvory, Holasice, Horní Loučky, Hostěnice, Hradčany, Pernštejnské Jestřabí, Chudčice, Ivaň, Javůrek, Jiříkovice, Kaly, Kanice, Katov, Kovalovice, Kratochvilka, Křižínkov, Kuřimská Nová Ves, Ledce, Lesní Hluboké, Litostrov, Loděnice, Lubné, Lukovany, Malhostovice, Maršov, Mělčany, Mokrá-Horákov, Moravské Bránice, Moravské Knínice, Nebovidy, Nelepeč-Žernůvka, Nesvačilka, Níhov, Pohořelice, Nové Bránice, Odrovice, Ochoz U Tišnova, Opatovice, Osiky, Ostopovice, Otmarov, Ponětovice, Popovice, Popůvky, Pravlov, Přísnotice, Radostice, Rašov, Rebešovice, Rohozec, Rojetín, Rozdrojovice, Rudka, Řícmanice, Říčky, Řikonín, Senorady, Sivice, Skalička, Sobotovice, Stanoviště, Strhaře, Svatoslav, Synalov, Štěpánovice, Tišnovská Nová Ves, Trboušany, Troskotovice, Újezd U Rosic, Újezd U Tišnova, Unkovice, Velatice, Veverské Knínice, Vojkovice, Vranovice, Vratislávka, Všechovice, Zakřany, Zálesná Zhoř, Zastávka, Zhoř, Žatčany, Olší, Podolí.

For the broader travel overview: South Moravia.