Kuklov: Paulaner Monastery, Castle Traces and Trails in the Blanský Forest

If you are looking for a place with landscapes, medieval traces and clear routes for walks or cycling tours, Kuklov offers an unusual amount of history within a compact thematic area. The village lies above the valley of the Brložský potok stream in the Blanský Forest. Between the former Paulaner monastery, the remains of Kuglwaid Castle and the nature trails, a destination emerges that cannot be explained by a single attraction, but rather by the interplay of nature and the past. The two historical sites offer different points of emphasis: The monastery represents an unfinished foundation, while the castle site represents a fortified complex with a prehistoric background and medieval use.

The Paulaner Monastery of Kuklov

A central point of reference is the Paulaner monastery with its single-nave Church of Saint Andrew. In 1495, Petr IV of Rosenberg invited the Order of Saint Francis of Paola to found a Paulaner monastery in Kuklov. However, the complex was never completed and was abandoned around 1530. It is precisely this unfinished character that distinguishes the monastery from a fully preserved historical complex: Exploring Kuklov means engaging with a project whose history is also reflected in its discontinuation and abandonment.

In the film “The Valley of the Bees,” the Kuklov monastery served as the fictional Vlkov Fortress.

Kuglwaid Castle and Medieval Traces

The royal Kuglwaid Castle stood approximately 100 metres west of Kuklov on a rocky promontory. It was founded around 1357 on the site of a prehistoric fortified settlement. Some wall remains, a ditch carved into the rock and earthworks have survived from the castle to this day. On the rocky promontory, the natural terrain and artificially created traces come together: The ditch carved into the rock and the surviving earthworks complement the wall remains. The different historical layers make the site a place with several periods of history: The prehistoric fortification was followed by the medieval castle, while the surviving wall and earth traces preserve the historical connection in the landscape today.

Nature Trails for Different Day Plans

Kuklov is a stop on the Brloh Nature Trail. In addition, the Brložsko Nature Trail runs as a 7.2-kilometre circular route with 16 stops. This provides two different types of routes for planning a day: The circular route offers a set course with several stops, while Kuklov appears on the Brloh Nature Trail as an individual point within a larger trail network. If you are travelling with children or in a mixed group, you can base the choice between a clearly described circular route and a route with Kuklov as a stop on the day's interests, without limiting your visit to sightseeing alone.

Kuklov as a Starting Point for Cycling Tours

Kuklov is a junction of cycle routes No. 1090 and 1066.

For the broader travel overview: Brloh.