Located in the South Moravian Region, this industrial town sits near the Moravian Karst cave system. Its 19th-century cast iron works and railway station shaped its growth.
Blansko, a town of 20,000 in the South Moravian Region, lies 16 kilometers north of Brno near the Moravian Karst. It makes a good base for visiting the Macocha Abyss, Punkva Caves, and underground boat tours. In town, you can explore Blansko Castle’s ironworking displays, climb the tower of the 17th-century Church of Saint Martin, or see the wooden Church of Saint Paraskieva, moved here from the Carpathian Mountains in 1936. Forest trails stretch into the Drahany Highlands, and old ironworks buildings from the 1800s still stand as reminders of the town’s industrial past.
Macocha Gorge and Nearby Caves
Begin at Macocha Gorge, a 138-meter-deep limestone pit created by collapsing cave roofs. Join a guided tour to walk through the Punkva Caves, where electric lights highlight jagged rock formations, then take a boat ride on the underground river. Above ground, follow trails to viewpoints such as Balkón u Macochy, which looks straight down into the gorge. Kateřinská Cave, filled with stalagmites shaped like needles and columns, lets you explore without a guide. Hiking paths link the caves to Blansko, passing through valleys dotted with pine and beech trees.
Castles, Churches, and Town History
Blansko Castle mixes Renaissance and Gothic styles and holds a museum on local iron production. Its courtyard displays cast-iron sculptures made in Blansko’s 19th-century foundries. The Church of Saint Martin, rebuilt after a fire in 1691, has a bell cast in 1520 and a tower you can climb for views over red rooftops. Five minutes east, the wooden Church of Saint Paraskieva features a domed roof and an iconostasis carved by Ukrainian craftsmen. The neoclassical town hall, with its clock tower and arched windows, dominates the main square.
Ironworks and Manufacturing Legacy
The red-brick Klamovka Ironworks complex preserves furnaces and machines used until the 1900s. Displays explain how workers here produced decorative iron gates, statues, and stoves exported across Europe. For more context, visit Stará huť in Adamov, 8 kilometers away, where 18th-century blast furnaces stand as a national monument. Blansko’s museum has scale models of mining tools and steam engines. Factories like ČKD, still operating near the train station, continue the town’s tradition of metalworking.
Hiking, Biking, and Swimming
Walk the 12-kilometer trail from Blansko to Macocha Gorge, which crosses streams and limestone outcrops. Cyclists can ride along the Svitava River toward Brno or head north to Letovice Reservoir, where you can rent paddleboards. West of town, the Podvrší trails lead to Bukovec Hill, the area’s highest point at 552 meters. In winter, ski tracks are groomed in the Drahany Highlands. During summer, locals swim and jump from rocks at Češkovice Quarry, a flooded mine with clear blue water.
Transportation Options
Buses and trains from Brno reach Blansko in 25 minutes, with departures every 30 minutes. From Prague, take a train to Brno, then transfer to Blansko—total journey time is about 2.5 hours. If driving from Brno, take Highway 43 through Adamov’s forested hills. The town center is walkable, but renting a bike or car helps access trails and villages like Sloup. Pick up maps and arrange cave tours at the Blansko Information Office on Rožmitálova Street.
Where to Stay
Penzion Rakovec provides budget rooms near the train station, while Hotel Kras has a spa and sauna. U Golema offers air-conditioned rooms with modern decor, and Agrocentrum Ohrada includes a pool open from June to August. For kitchens and parking, book apartments like Za Kopcem on the town’s outskirts. Pet owners can stay at Penzion Sloup, 3 kilometers from the karst trails. Reserve early in summer or December, when hotels fill quickly.
