A small Czech town with a 13th-century monastery and glass-making museum. Located along the Sázava River, it's a starting point for hiking trails in the local forests.
Sázava, a town along the river in the Central Bohemian Region, invites you to explore its 11th-century monastery, centuries-old glass production, and access to the Sázava River. The Sázava Monastery, built in the Baroque style, holds frescoes and objects that show changes in religious practices over time. On the river, you can paddle calm sections or hike trails in the Vlašim and Benešov Uplands. The Kavalierglass factory, open since 1837, demonstrates the town’s industrial past. Fans of the game Kingdom Come: Deliverance might recognize the monastery, which appears as a key location called Sasau.
Sázava Monastery: History from the 11th Century to Today
Duke Bretislaus I established this Benedictine monastery in 1032. It became known for using Old Church Slavonic in religious services under Saint Procopius before switching to Latin in 1097. During a guided tour, you’ll see the unfinished Gothic basilica and Baroque updates added by architect Vít Václav Kaňka, including a detailed Rococo altar showing Mary’s ascent to heaven. The monastery was damaged during Hussite attacks in 1421 and rebuilt in the 17th century, later turned into a chateau by private owners. Artifacts on display include medieval manuscripts, pieces of original frescoes, and information about Procopius’s life. The building’s digital version in Kingdom Come: Deliverance lets players solve puzzles in a virtual replica of the site.
Kayaking and Hiking Along the Sázava River
The Sázava River stretches 208 km through the region, with calm sections near town and faster currents at the Stvořidla Reserve Reserve further north. Rent a kayak in Týnec nad Sázavou for a half-day trip floating past Český Šternberk Castle, which rises from a cliff above the water. Multi-day trips end closer to Prague, passing small villages along the way. Fishing spots near Kácov are popular for catching pike and perch. Cyclists can follow the Posázavská stezka trail, which runs parallel to the river through towns like Rataje nad Sázavou. From April to October, campsites such as Kemp Sázava provide simple accommodations near swimming areas surrounded by pine trees.
Kavalierglass Factory: Glassmaking Since 1837
Franz Kavalier started this glassworks factory on the river’s eastern bank in 1837. It still makes laboratory and medical glass using traditional methods. Tours booked ahead of time let you watch workers shape molten glass into tubes and bottles. The visitor center displays old pharmacy containers and explains how local quartz sand became essential to the industry. The factory’s 1930s administrative building, with its clean lines, stands near the monastery’s ornate towers, showing how Sázava’s history spans different eras.
Day Trip to Žďár nad Sázavou
Drive 90 minutes east to Žďár nad Sázavou to visit the Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Architect Jan Blažej Santini created the church in the 1720s, giving it a star-shaped layout that mixes pointed arches with curved Baroque details. The Žďár Castle Museum uses interactive displays to teach about Cistercian monks who lived there. Families might enjoy the model railway exhibit in the town’s cultural center, which includes miniature towns and landscapes. Walk around Konventský Pond to observe herons and other birds in the wetlands of the Louky u Černého Lesa protected area.
How to Reach Sázava
Take a direct train from Prague’s main station to Sázava in about 50 minutes. If driving, head southeast on Highway D1 toward Brno and exit at number 41, followed by a 15-minute drive through pine woods. Parking near the monastery costs 50 CZK per day from April to October. Buses connect Sázava to Benešov in 30 minutes, where you can transfer to other towns like Tábor. Visit the town’s official website for updates on summer events like the Prokopská pouť festival, which includes traditional markets and demonstrations of blacksmithing.
