Vranov (Brno-Country District)

49°18′33″N 16°36′50″E / 49.30917°N 16.61389°E / 49.30917; 16.61389Country Czech RepublicRegionSouth MoravianDistrictBrno-CountryFirst mentioned1365Area • Total12.42 km² (4.80 sq mi)Elevation440 m (1,440 ft)Population • Total904 • Density73/km² (190/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal codeWebsitewww.vranov.cz

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

Vranov is located about 10 kilometres (6 mi) north of Brno. It lies in the Drahany Highlands. The highest point is the Zavíravá hill at 525 m (1,722 ft) above sea level. The municipal territory is rich in small brooks. The Svitava River forms the eastern municipal border.

A church consecrated to the Mother of God was built here in 1240. The first written mention of Vranov is from 1365.^[2]

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.^[3]

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 544 —     1880 516 −5.1% 1890 529 +2.5% 1900 620 +17.2% 1910 651 +5.0%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 575 −11.7% 1930 623 +8.3% 1950 676 +8.5% 1961 683 +1.0% 1970 657 −3.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 634 −3.5% 1991 629 −0.8% 2001 595 −5.4% 2011 755 +26.9% 2021 916 +21.3%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

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

Vranov is known for one of the oldest motocross tracks in the country called Vranovský žleb. It was built in 1966 and it is 1,820 m (5,970 ft) long.^[6]

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.^[7]

Today the monastery houses the Spiritual Centre, which offers accommodation services and organizes spiritual, cultural and educational events.^[3]