Branná – Kolštejn Castle, Pasák and Historical Discoveries

Branná appeals to travellers who want to combine nature, local history and a variety of day trips. Highlights include the Kolštejn complex, the educational trail and Pasák Nature Monument, the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, a preserved spring and a microbrewery. When choosing accommodation, the key question is therefore whether your stay will be shaped by culture, hiking, winter sports or regional flavours.

Kolštejn and the History of Branná

Kolštejn Castle was founded by the Wüstenhube family at the beginning of the 14th century; the first documented mention of its construction dates from 1301. At the beginning of the 17th century, the Žerotín family and the Lords of Vrbno built the chateau buildings of the middle and lower parts of the castle and transformed the complex into a comfortable Renaissance residence. The Černá věž gate tower, which has survived to this day, was also built at that time.

Visitors can see several reconstructed parts of the Kolštejn complex, the ruins of the original Gothic castle and a historical entrance exhibition. Fojtství was built as a single-storey building at the end of the 16th century and was extended by an additional floor about a century later. The Church of St. Michael the Archangel was originally built as a Protestant church in 1612–1614 under the name Zmrtvýchvstání Krista; in 1743, it was adapted for Catholic worship and rededicated to St. Michael.

Mariánský pramen is the surviving relic of the former pilgrimage site of Branná, also known as Kolštejn. The former pilgrimage church was dissolved and demolished in 1789, while the spring was preserved. Mariánský pramen has been restored and is most easily reached by following the path from Branná railway station towards the Banjaluka forester's lodge.

The Pasák Educational Trail and Nature Monument

The Pasák educational trail is a 12.5-kilometre tourist and recreational route with 14 multi-themed stops. It begins in Branná below the railway station. Designated in 1982, the geological and geomorphological Pasák Nature Monument covers 2.5 hectares and includes a rocky ridge with frost cliffs, isolated rocks, rock overhangs and cryoplanation terraces below the Polomský potok.

Pasák's distinctive rock formations include a rock window, a rock mushroom and a rock slab. The dominant Pasák rock tower is associated with several local legends, including the legend of the petrified shepherd. The length of the route and its 14 stops provide concrete guidance for planning a day in nature.

Winter Sports and Regional Specialities

For winter sports, the Branná ski area is situated at an elevation of 630–750 metres and has three slopes suitable for beginners as well as more advanced skiers. At the Kolštejn microbrewery, pale and semi-dark lagers as well as seasonal beer specialities are brewed. During a tasting, you can sample all the beers brewed there, accompanied by a guided brewery tour.

Choose Accommodation Suited to Your Travel Interests

When looking for accommodation in Branná, you can first determine your preferred daily rhythm: historical discoveries, nature observation, hiking, winter sports or a culinary finale with regional beer. The verified local facts help with this thematic classification but make no claims about individual accommodations.

Discover More Places

For further research, you can also find pages about Mala Morava, Chromeč, Stavenice, Potůčník, Olšany, Bohuslavice Nad Moravou, Moravičany and Mírov.

For the higher-level travel overview: Šumperk District.