Vranov (Brno-Country District)

Vranov is a municipality and village in Brno-Country District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 900 inhabitants.

Geography
Vranov is located about 10 km north of Brno. It lies in the Drahany Highlands. The highest point is the Zavíravá hill at 525 m above sea level. The municipal territory is rich in small brooks. The Svitava River forms the eastern municipal border.

History
A church consecrated to the Mother of God was built here in 1240. The first written mention of Vranov is from 1365.

In 1622–1633, a Minims monastery with the pilgrimage Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary were founded here by Count Maximilian of Liechtenstein.

Transport
There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipality.

Sport
Vranov is known for one of the oldest motocross tracks in the country called Vranovský žleb. It was built in 1966 and it is 1820 m long.

Sights
The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was one of the first early Baroque structures in Moravia. In the crypt of the church is the family tomb of the House of Liechtenstein. Extensive alterations to the temple and extensions of the family crypt were made in 1740–1821.

Today the monastery houses the Spiritual Centre, which offers accommodation services and organizes spiritual, cultural and educational events.