Benešov District: Protected Areas and Castles

Benešov District combines distinctive protected areas with important historic buildings: the Blaník Protected Landscape Area encompasses wooded, rocky peaks and a historic cultural landscape shaped by agriculture, while ponds, forests, a monastery and castles provide further highlights. You can combine nature and cultural experiences on your trip or choose one main focus.

Landscapes, Ponds and Protected Areas

The Blaník Protected Landscape Area lies in the southern part of the district and covers 40 km². Velký Blaník and Malý Blaník, two wooded, rocky peaks, define the landscape. The area also protects a historic cultural landscape shaped by agriculture. This combination makes Blaník a distinctive travel theme: natural formations and an agricultural landscape exist side by side here.

Podhrázský Pond near Bystřice offers a different natural highlight. It is a nature reserve and the largest pond in Benešov District. Several dozen bird species nest there, and the pond is also a frequently used resting place for migratory birds. In contrast to Blaník’s wooded peaks and cultural landscape, the focus at the pond is on birdlife. This gives you two distinct nature themes to consider when planning your trip.

The Ve Studeném National Nature Reserve lies 2 km from the town of Sázava and preserves woodland with a primeval character. This distance places the forest reserve in relation to Sázava. Hadce u Želivky is designated as another natural monument in the district. Closer to the destination, near Býkovice, lies the Podlesí nature reserve, a wetland with peat meadows and rare plant and animal species.

Monasteries, Castles and Chateaux

The cultural sites offer a different perspective on the trip. Sázava Monastery is a national cultural monument and the fourth-oldest monastery in Czechia. Český Šternberk is a Gothic castle and also a national cultural monument. The monastery and castle thus represent different forms of historic heritage in the district: sacred monastic culture on the one hand, and a Gothic castle on the other.

Other architectural styles add to the picture of the district’s chateaux. Jemniště is a Baroque chateau with an English park; Konopiště Chateau also has an English park and is one of the most visited chateaux in Bohemia. Komorní Hrádek, Líšno and Vrchotovy Janovice are also in the district. Týnec nad Sázavou is home to a Romanesque castle. If historic buildings are your main travel focus, you can choose places based on their specific differences, from a monastery to Gothic and Romanesque castles, and from a Baroque chateau to a park.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Trip

When looking for a hotel in Benešov District, you can start with the experiences that interest you most. Blaník, forest reserves and wetlands offer different highlights from monasteries, castles and chateaux. If nature and culture are equally important to you, you can take both themes into account when making your selection.

Discover More Places in Benešov District

Cercany, Ceský Sternberk, Chocerady, Drachkov, Merin, Neveklov, Porící Nad Sázavou, Rabyne, Sázava, Skalice, Slapanov, Sobesovice, Zahorí U Milicína, Zlenice, Vsetice, Chrást Nad Sázavou, Krivacek, Slapy-Nedvezi, Petriny U Vlasimy, Nova Rabyne, Teplysovice, Kondrac, Netvorice, Pysely, Načeradec, Čechtice, Beneschau, Divišov, Loket U Dolních Kralovic, Kozmice, Bílkovice, Nespeky, Bystřice U Benešova, Chotýšany, Dolní Kralovice, Kamberk, Keblov, Kladruby U Vlašimi, Krhanice, Křivsoudov, Louňovice Pod Blaníkem, Miličín, Neustupov, Jankov, Postupice, Pravonín, Přestavlky U Čerčan, Smilkov, Soutice, Střezimíř, Trhový Štěpánov, Týnec Nad Sázavou, Vlašim, Vojkov, Votice, Vrchotovy Janovice, Zvěstov, Heřmaničky, Řehenice, Ješetice, Vranov, Maršovice, Stranný, Lešany, Bucina, Bukovany, Ctiboř, Čakov, Čtyřkoly, Děkanovice, Drahňovice, Dunice, Olbramovice, Křečovice, Hradiště, Ratměřice, Hulice, Hvězdonice, Chářovice, Chlístov, Chlum, Chmelná, Choratice, Javorník U Vlašimi, Tichonice, Popovice, Krcmy, Krňany, Kuňovice, Mezno, Libež, Lipiny U Radosovic, Litichovice, Lštění, Soběhrdy, Miřetice, Mrač, Nemíž, Radošovice, Pavlovice, Petroupim, Řimovice, Slověnice, Snět, Strojetice, Studený, Čeřenice, Libohošť, Záhorí, Šetějovice, Tisem, Tomice, Václavice, Vodslivy, Vracovice, Xaverov, Zdislavice, Ostředek, Rataje.

For the wider travel overview: Central Bohemia.