Kuřim

Kuřim combines an impressive history with wooded hills, educational trails, water activities and unusual insights into the past.

History among the church, castle and tunnels

One of the town’s defining buildings is the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. King Přemysl Otakar I founded it in 1226; it was originally built in the Romanesque style. After being plundered by the Swedes at the end of the Thirty Years’ War, it was rebuilt between 1766 and 1772 in its present late Baroque form. The church also serves as a venue for cultural events, especially organ and vocal concerts.

The original fortress of Kuřim was converted into a Renaissance château in 1592–1594. The castle courtyard hosts public celebrations, music and theatre performances, as well as summer cinema screenings. It is also home to the entrance to the “Kuřim – Na spojnici cest” exhibition at Křížkovského 48/2. The exhibition presents the history of the town from the Stone Age onwards, providing an independent insight into Kuřim’s development.

The Kuřim tunnels are particularly evocative historical sites. The underground system of passageways was created at the end of the Second World War and served as a shelter for approximately 2,000–3,000 residents of Kuřim and the surrounding municipalities during the bombing raids and the final fighting at the end of April and beginning of May 1945. Information about tours is available by email at stoly@kurim.cz; the number of participants is limited for safety reasons. Various historical events focusing on life during the First Republic also take place at weekends. At Četnická stanice, a group of history enthusiasts presents the history of the gendarmerie through a gendarmerie station from the First Republic period.

Educational trails for leisurely discoveries

The Zárubou a Horkou educational trail leads over the summits of the two wooded hills, Záruby and Horky, above Kuřim. It was established in 2005 and comprises seven stops with carved educational panels. The topics range from the landscape and local buildings to views of the summits of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands and extinct species.

The Kuřimská hora educational trail is 1.6 kilometres long and designed for approximately 1.5 hours of leisurely walking. Ten panels cover forestry and natural history topics and are supplemented by interactive elements. The trail is accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, is considered moderately difficult, and is suitable for families with small children and seniors. At the foot of Kuřimská hora stands the Water Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk; a spring emerges from a niche in the lower part of the chapel.

Water, walks and active days

Srpek Pond lies in the western recreational zone of Kuřim and is described as a walking route beside a biotope. Several cycle paths around the pond connect this place with the surrounding villages. For families, the outdoor swimming pool in the summer area of Wellness Kuřim offers a 50-metre pool, a 10-metre family slide and a children’s paddling pool. The outdoor pool complex also includes two beach volleyball courts. The Wellness Kuřim aquapark has an activity pool with a wild-water channel and a swimming pool with four lanes.

This allows you to choose your accommodation in Kuřim according to your preferred travel rhythm: historical insights and events, quiet paths through forests and landscapes, or water activities for a varied family day. Other destinations for your research include Domašov (Domašov), Kuřimská Nová Ves (Kuřimská Nová Ves), Jiříkovice (Jiříkovice), Kratochvilka (Kratochvilka), Vratislávka (Vratislávka), Rohozec (Rohozec), Cvrčovice (Cvrčovice) and Dolní Kounice (Dolní Kounice).

For the broader travel overview: Brno-Country District.