Discover Oslavany: Mining History, Castle and Family Experiences

Oslavany combines an impressive mining heritage with castle culture, water-based activities and excursions for different age groups. Those interested in the technical past will find tangible insights here, along with family activities, historical events and opportunities for peaceful walks in the castle park.

Mining history brought to life

The Rosicko-Oslavansko Mining and Energy Museum presents almost 250 years of hard-coal mining history in the Rosicko-Oslavansko Basin. The exhibits include a true-to-scale model of a mine gallery with a mining locomotive. This makes the development of mining visible not merely through dates, but as a spatial and technical working environment.

Another distinctive landmark is the headframe of the KUKLA mine. It was built in 1910–1911 as one of the most modern mining structures in the Habsburg Monarchy and reopened in 2012 as a publicly accessible cultural monument with interactive exhibits. The Oslavany Firefighting Museum complements this historical focus with unique exhibits and documents. It is located on the ground floor of the south wing of Oslavany Castle; visitors can also see hand-operated or steam-powered fire engines more than 100 years old.

When visiting the Mining Museum, take its seasonal opening schedule into account: From May to September, it is open to the public on weekends and on selected significant days, and from Tuesday to Sunday during the summer holidays.

Castle, lapidarium and historical traces

The history of the castle reaches back to the Cistercian nunnery of Vallis sanctae Mariae, the first Cistercian nunnery in Moravia. After the nunnery passed into secular ownership in 1525, it was converted into a Renaissance castle. The Lapidarium project opened another part of the castle to the public and presents architectural fragments and stonework from the collections of the museum in Ivančice.

In the lapidarium, you can see tombstones of citizens from Ivančice, objects from Ivančice’s former Jewish quarter and a fragment of the pillory column from Ivančice’s town square. The Church of St Nicholas in Oslavany is Gothic in origin and was later remodelled in the Baroque style. Just a few hundred metres from the castle, you will also find the restored educational trail about the Permocarboniferous period created by RNDr. Lubomír Malý.

Water, family recreation and events

The Oslavany natural bathing biotope includes a public swimming lake accessible for an admission fee during the bathing season. The grounds also feature a children’s water area with paddling pools, water sprayers and a play fountain. Permonium is a family leisure park in Oslavany that combines adventure, exercise, nature and stories from a former hard-coal mine. For younger children, Duhový svět offers colourful play elements, water attractions and fairytale areas; it is aimed at children approximately 2 to 6 years old.

The Oslavanské historické slavnosti also have their own distinctive character. They include a knights’ tournament and a historical crafts market. The event commemorates the arrival of King Přemysl Otakar I and Queen Constance in Oslavany during the consecration of the Cistercian nunnery of Údolí sv. Marie in 1228.

Walks and practical information

Oslavany Castle Park offers opportunities for peaceful walks and relaxation. At the same time, it provides a habitat for numerous birds, bats and rare insects such as the hermit beetle. Visitor parking for the bathing biotope and the sports facilities in the castle garden is available on Sportovní Street and on the grounds of the TJ Oslavany Stadium.

More places to research

If you would like to explore destinations beyond Oslavany, you can find Zakřany, Brumov, Zhoř, Zastávka, Nová Ves, Řikonín, Tišnovská Nová Ves and Ostrovačice here.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Brno-Venkov.