Žďár nad Sázavou

Žďár nad Sázavou is a small town in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic, set on the Sázava River at the edge of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. It is best known as the gateway to the UNESCO-listed Pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk at Zelená Hora, a strikingly original Baroque Gothic work by architect Jan Santini.

The town grew up around a Cistercian monastery founded in 1252 and later developed into an industrial and cultural centre. The former monastery, now Žďár Castle, stands beside the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and houses the Museum of the New Generation, while Zelená Hora rises just outside the centre as the town's most recognisable landmark.

Around Republic Square, visitors find the Town Hall, historic burgher houses and a compact centre that is easy to explore on foot. The pilgrimage church's star-shaped design, completed in the 1720s, made it one of the most distinctive religious buildings in Central Europe and brought it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994.

The surrounding Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area offers rolling hills, forests, cycling routes and hiking trails, including the area around Devět skal. In winter, the nearby town of Nové Město na Moravě is known for cross-country skiing and biathlon events, giving the region year-round outdoor appeal.

For travellers, Žďár nad Sázavou combines a quiet historic centre, a major cultural monument and easy access to nature. Its engineering and manufacturing heritage also makes it a regional business centre, while its location between Prague and Brno keeps it reachable for both leisure and work trips.