Krasonice combines castle history, sacred architecture and a trail associated with Otokar Březina. The castle and the Church of St Lawrence are close to each other in the village centre; the Březina Trail passes through the village. Nearby, Maškův mlýn adds another historic site. The themes range from a Renaissance-era conversion to different types of church architecture and the history of a mill. The landscape of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands also provides a setting for walks and cycling tours.
Castle history in the village centre
Krasonice Castle is believed to stand on the site of an earlier fortress mentioned in sources dating to 1353. In 1630, the former fortress was converted into a single-storey, Late Renaissance castle. It has an irregular courtyard and ground-floor arcades.
The castle is in the village centre, close to the Church of St Lawrence. It is privately owned, so check whether access is possible before visiting. The church and castle are situated close together in the village landscape, while their histories span different periods.
Churches, a chapel and local history
The Church of St Lawrence is documented as early as 1311; it acquired its present Baroque appearance around 1771. A large painting of St Lawrence hangs above the marble main altar. The building thus brings together an early historical record, a much later architectural style and a specific detail of its interior.
The Chapel of the Virgin Mary on Humberk offers a different architectural accent. It was built in 1664 in gratitude for the healing of Karel Maximilián Thurn’s ailing eyes. The building is Neo-Gothic, and its windows are decorated with stained glass. Its slender tower is 22 metres high and holds three bells tuned to each other. The statue of St John of Nepomuk is also part of the local religious history: it was blessed on 18 June 1720.
The Březina Trail and the landscape
The Březina Trail passes through Krasonice and connects places associated with the poet Otokar Březina. It is 55 to 60 kilometres long and runs along roads, field tracks and footpaths. The different types of route and the total length provide practical reference points for planning. The climbs are considered not particularly demanding, although conditions vary from person to person. This assessment of the climbs does not replace taking the total distance and specific route into account.
The broader description of the landscape is separate: the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands around Krasonice invite visitors to go walking and cycling. While this describes the opportunities in the landscape, the Březina Trail is a specific named route with a stated length and different types of paths.
Maškův mlýn: waterside setting and former industries
Maškův mlýn is near Krasonice, on the Želetavka River. A pond and a weir are next to the mill. It once had its own sawmill and lime works. Two distinct aspects come together here: its waterside setting, with a pond and weir, and its former use for sawing and lime production. This adds a connection to local economic and landscape history to the architectural and church history of Krasonice.
Discover more destinations: Suchá, Brtnička, Dušejov, Žatec Na Moravě, Ústí U Humpolce, Dudín, Vanůvek, Vílanec.
For the regional travel overview: Jihlava District.
