Kružberk – Reservoir, Churches and Climbing Rocks

Kružberk between the Moravice, cultural monuments and rocks

Kružberk brings sacred history, a striking reservoir and unusual rock landscapes together within a small area. This makes it possible to experience the town in different ways during your holiday: you can visit historic buildings, explore the Moravice, choose a cycling route or hike to the climbing rocks. Those looking for accommodation in Kružberk will find a place whose character is shaped by more than just a single attraction.

Churches with a history of their own

At the southern edge of Kružberk, near the bridge over the Moravice, stands the Church of St. Peter and Paul. This small late Gothic church, built in a folk style, dates from the first half of the 14th century, is a state-protected cultural monument and is considered one of the oldest churches in Silesia. Particularly noteworthy is the organ dating from 1808, which is known in Silesia for having the largest number of preserved original components.

A second historical trace leads to the Church of St. Florian. It was built in 1812 by the master builder Antonín Englisch on the site of a church approximately 100 years older, which had already become too small. Inside is a Way of the Cross with 14 images from 1883. Together, the two churches reveal different chapters of the town's history, without Kružberk needing a large museum complex to do so.

Reservoir, rocks and paths along the Moravice

The Kružberská Reservoir is a water reservoir on the Moravice that was built from 1948 to 1955 as the first reservoir in the Oder river basin. Its immediate surroundings served as a filming location in 1985 for the nine-part television series Velké sedlo. The water conditions of the Moravice are also clearly defined: the river is navigable by watercraft for approximately 100 kilometres, but only when water is released under controlled conditions from the Kružberská Reservoir.

The Kružberské training rocks are a special attraction for active days. The climbing routes run along walls, in dihedrals, cracks and chimneys, and reach lengths of up to 50 metres. The area consists of three main sectors: Žabí kůň, Hlavní masiv and Rozlámaná. From Kružberk, the rocks can be reached via an approximately one-kilometre-long red-marked hiking trail towards the reservoir.

Cycling, an educational trail and a castle ruin

The Moravice cycling route No. 551 leads from Kružberk via Hradec nad Moravicí to Opava and is approximately 44 kilometres long. Most of it runs along Class III roads as well as paved or unpaved forest paths. This also allows you to choose your base according to the kind of day you want: the route provides a longer connection between several towns, while the Čermákova educational trail offers a shorter exploration of Kružberk.

This educational trail is 5.2 kilometres long and includes eight stations focusing on nature, historic monuments and notable figures of the region. It runs along the riverbanks, past the Kružberské training rocks and the dam of the Kružberská Reservoir, as well as a game enclosure.

Another destination is the ruin of Radisko-Kružberk Castle. It lies in a forest about 1.2 kilometres southwest of Kružberk town centre and approximately 400 metres east of the dam of the Kružberská Reservoir, on a prominent rocky edge above the left bank of the Moravice. The castle served a watch function over a trade route and presumably fell into disrepair during later internal unrest and the Hussite Wars.

The Moravice Canyon and destinations in the region

In Moravice Nature Park, the river forms a deep canyon below the Kružberská Reservoir between Dolní Moravice and Branka u Opavy. The region also includes Otice, Bolatice, Píšť, Štáblovice, Branka U Opavy, Větřkovice, Jakartovice and Nové Lublice.

For the broader travel overview: Opava District.