The history of the Bible of Kralice has shaped Kralice nad Oslavou in several ways: it spans the printing press of the Bohemian Brethren, surviving printing equipment, and the town’s architecture and art. The valleys of the Oslava and Chvojnice rivers offer a different focus. For your stay, you can therefore decide whether to explore the cultural history in greater depth or plan a hike through the named valleys.

Printing History and the Bible of Kralice

The Bible of Kralice Memorial stands beside the former fortress, where a secret printing press of the Bohemian Brethren found refuge from 1578 to 1620. By 1619, the press had published more than 70 works, including the six-volume Bible of Kralice. These details cover both the press’s historical period in the fortress and its publishing output.

More than 4,000 original printing types, metal letters, spacers, decorative elements, and printing tools are preserved in the memorial. Other exhibits found during archaeological investigations of Kralická tvrz are also on display. The objects bring different aspects of printing to life: alongside letters and spacers, there are also decorative forms and tools. This makes it possible to explore the history not only through a single work, but also through the materials and equipment used in printing.

Church, Fortress, and Art

The Church of St. Martin is the oldest building in Kralice nad Oslavou. Its present-day sacristy dates back to a free-standing pre-Romanesque chapel from the end of the 11th century. Wall paintings from around 1300 survive at the end of the presbytery; among them is Saint Martin sharing his cloak with a beggar. The church thus presents two distinct historical traces: the sacristy’s early origins and the later paintings.

Kralická tvrz can also be understood through its different building phases. At the end of the first half of the 16th century, it underwent a major reconstruction. Jindřich Kralický z Kralic added three Renaissance wings to the Gothic building. The Bible of Kralice Monument has its own visual language: it consists of an open bronze book on an altar-like pedestal and symbolizes the translation and printing of the Bible of Kralice. These cultural sites thus highlight both the specific history of the buildings and the memory of the printed work.

Hiking in the Valleys

Around Kralice nad Oslavou, the valleys of the Chvojnice and Oslava rivers retain natural, gorge-like formations of great scenic and scientific importance. A hiking route through Kralice nad Oslavou and the valleys of the Oslava and Chvojnice rivers starts at Kralice nad Oslavou railway station. The freely accessible ruins of Kraví Hora Castle lie along the route. Check trail conditions before setting out, as they can change. When planning, you can choose between the town’s historical sites and a dedicated focus on the valleys and hiking.

Discover more destinations: Červená Lhota, Trebenice, Lesní Jakubov, Hodov, Číchov, Příštpo, Láz, Krokočín

See the overview of the wider region: Třebíč District.