The Cave of the Blaník Knights, Sandstone grotto with knight sculptures in Rudka u Kunštátu, Czech Republic
The Cave of the Blaník Knights is a sandstone grotto in Rudka u Kunštátu, where 16 life-sized knight figures lie in sleeping poses alongside an equestrian statue of Saint Wenceslas. The sculptures fill the interior almost completely, arranged within the natural rock so that stone figures and cave walls seem to merge.
Stanislav Rolínek, a local artist, began carving the sandstone figures in the early 1900s and continued until he died of tuberculosis in 1931, aged 30. He never finished the project, and the grotto remains partly incomplete to this day.
The sculptures bring to life the Czech legend of sleeping knights who are said to rise from within a mountain when their nation faces its greatest danger. Visitors who know the story can match each figure to the tale, making the visit feel more like reading a carved book than touring a cave.
The grotto sits away from main roads and is easiest to reach by private vehicle. Opening times can vary by season, so checking before you go helps avoid a wasted trip.
At the entrance, a large stone lion stands guard, while inside the grotto only the boots remain from a statue of President Masaryk that once stood over 10 meters tall and was destroyed during World War II. Those stone boots, still sitting on their base, are the only visible trace of what was once the largest figure in the whole site.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
