The Sázava Monastery is a national cultural monument and a clear focal point for a stay centered on culture. Other attractions include the Huť František glassworks, the Jiří Voskovec Memorial Hall, and the pilgrimage site of sv. Prokop within the monastery complex. When planning your stay, you can first consider whether you are more interested in the monastery’s history and other cultural sites or in activities on the river.

Monastery, Pilgrimage and Early History

The “Svatoprokopská Sázava” tour takes you to the chapter hall, the cloister with wall paintings that are being restored, and the refectory. The foundations of the Church of sv. Kříže, dating from 1070, lie in the northern monastery garden, which is freely accessible. This offers different ways to explore the site: the interiors and cloister are part of the named tour, while the garden is a freely accessible place with early architectural remains.

If you would like to explore the pilgrimage connection further, you can visit the site of sv. Prokop within the monastery complex on the “Český patron svatý Prokop” tour. This includes the Gallery of sv. Prokop, where objects from the monastery treasury are on display. Among them are a cup and a spoon that allegedly belonged to Saint Prokop. The tour ends with a descent into a restored crypt containing the mortal remains of Saint Prokop.

Glassmaking History and Places of Remembrance

Huť František is the oldest glassworks in Sázava and is designated an immovable cultural monument because it is one of the few glassworks preserved in its original condition. The Jiří Voskovec Memorial Hall offers a different perspective on the town’s history: it documents his family history, his years of study, the famous period of Osvobozené divadlo, and his time in the United States. The two sites highlight different aspects, from industrial history to biography.

The Vosovka spring, in the Lázně area, is another attraction in Sázava. A Baroque chalice can be seen there, surrounded by legends about Saint Prokop and the devil. The U Martina cultural complex is housed in a deconsecrated church rebuilt in the Baroque style, which has been used for concerts, author readings, and exhibitions. During reconstruction from April 2026 to July 2027, regular events are suspended; their return is planned for 2028.

River, Trails and Getting There

The Sázava River flows through the town, and about 208 kilometers of the river are navigable. The stretch from Český Šternberk to Sázava is 21 kilometers long for paddling trips. Check local water conditions before setting out, as conditions at individual weirs can vary.

On land, Sázava lies on the marked Posázavská stezka trail. It runs from the confluence of the Sázava and Vltava rivers via Pikovice and Čerčany along the Sázava to its source near Žďár nad Sázavou. Another route detail relates to cycling: the Cyrilometodějská stezka is 40 kilometers long. This makes it possible to weigh up different activities when planning your trip, without treating the paddling and cycling routes as equivalent stages.

Sázava is also on railway line 212. The Sázava zastávka stop and the Sázava–Černé Budy railway station are each about one kilometer from the monastery. Check timetables separately when planning your journey. When choosing your stay, you can combine the cultural focus of the monastery and town with your interests in the river, hiking trail, or cycling route.

Discover more destinations: Lštění, Studený, Řimovice, Mezno, Bílkovice, Zvěstov, Pravonín, Pavlovice.

For the broader travel overview: Benešov District.