The Cave of the Blaník Knights, Sandstone grotto with knight sculptures in Rudka u Kunštátu, Czech Republic

The Cave of the Blaník Knights is an artificial sandstone cave near Rudka, carved from 1928 onward. Its knight's hall holds 17 statues of the Blaník knights, among them Saint Wenceslas and three legionnaires; the largest, guardians of the St. Wenceslas crown, stand over three metres tall. A stone lion carved by Stanislav Rolínek guards the entrance.

Work on the cave began in November 1928, right after Stanislav Rolínek unveiled his thirteen-metre statue of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. Rolínek carved the entrance lion and the guardian first, then seventeen Blaník knights, including Saint Wenceslas and three legionnaires. He died in July 1931 of a prolonged illness, and others finished the knight's hall from his designs; the planned stables, armoury and hall of fame were never built.

The cave takes its name from the Blaník knights of Czech legend, said to sleep inside the mountain Blaník and wake when the nation is in greatest danger. The figures here are not sleeping, though: they stand as guardians, including Saint Wenceslas and three legionnaires, and the largest guard the St. Wenceslas crown at over three metres.

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.

The lion at the cave entrance was the first figure Stanislav Rolínek carved, in 1928, although he had never seen a real lion and worked from photographs. The original plan also included stables, an armoury and a hall of fame behind the knight's hall, but these were never built.