Spešov: a village on the Svitava where there's no need to rush

Spešov (about 650 residents) lies on the right bank of the Svitava between Blansko and Rájec-Jestřebí, right on the railway line from Brno. It isn’t part of the Moravian Karst, but you can see it from here, and it makes a handy base for day trips by train or on foot. It has an open-air swimming pool (koupaliště), a small lookout tower (the Spešov Tower) and a chapel of St John of Nepomuk dating from 1857. The linguist František Trávníček was born here. A path leads from Spešov via the tower down to the ponds at Rájec-Jestřebí. We couldn’t find any accommodation in the village itself; the nearest is in Blansko.

QUICK LINKS 👀 What to see · 🥾 Day trips · 🛏️ Where to stay · ❓ FAQ

The name Spešov is said to come from the Czech verb spěchat, “to hurry”. In a place where, in summer, you can climb the lookout tower in the morning and take a dip at the swimming pool in the afternoon, that’s almost a joke.

What to see

• The Chapel of St John of Nepomuk in the centre of the village, consecrated on 7 October 1857.
• The Spešov Tower, a small lookout tower on the hill above the village. It has hiking stamp no. 1988.
• The swimming pool (koupaliště), with a pond above it, which is the liveliest spot in the village in summer.
• Eight protected lime trees.

A bit of history: The first written record dates from 1373. The village belonged to the Černá Hora estate and was shaped by both the lords of Boskovice and the Salm family of Rájec chateau. Foundry sand was quarried in the area, and iron ore on the western slopes. The yellow in the village’s coat of arms is a nod to that sand. The sports ground once hosted an athletics club that even Emil Zátopek knew.

Famous natives: the linguist František Trávníček (1888–1961), author of a Czech grammar and dictionary, and Marie Vaculíková (1925–2020), founder of the Club of Kindred Spirits at the Semafor theatre and wife of the writer Ludvík Vaculík.

Day trips

• Via the lookout tower to Rájec-Jestřebí. From the tower it’s a downhill walk to the ponds at Rájec-Jestřebí; see Rájec-Jestřebí.
• To Jedle. A path climbs up into the hills to Jedle, the highest peak in the area. From there it’s only a short way on to Černá Hora and its brewery.
• To Blansko and the karst. By train you’ll be in Blansko in a few minutes, and from there buses run to Skalní Mlýn. See Blansko and The Moravian Karst without a car.

Where to stay

We weren’t able to find any verified, operating accommodation in Spešov. The nearest option is Blansko, which has more hotels and guesthouses and good connections to the karst; see Blansko and Where to stay in the Moravian Karst.

FAQ

Is Spešov part of the Moravian Karst? No, it lies on the Svitava, just beyond the western boundary of the protected landscape area (CHKO). But the karst is within easy reach via Blansko.

Does Spešov have a swimming pool? Yes, there’s an open-air swimming pool (koupaliště) with a pond above it, open in summer.

Who was born in Spešov? The linguist František Trávníček and Marie Vaculíková, founder of the Club of Kindred Spirits at the Semafor theatre.

Information verified as of 12. 10. 2026. Sources: brochure by the Moravian Karst Rural Development Association (Spolek pro rozvoj venkova Moravský kras), Spešov village profile; Spešov (Wikipedia); Turistika.cz: Spešov Tower.

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