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Brno is the capital of Moravia and the second largest city in the Czech Republic. It is a city that has grown at the confluence of the rivers Svitava and Svratka, although these rivers are not visible in the atmospheric center, where you as a tourist can enjoy many lovely walks.
Brno’s highlights are literally St. Peter and Paul Cathedral and Špilberk Castle, both perched on top of some of the hills that draw the city’s landscape and skyline. The two sights are also among the most visited places in Brno, but there is also much else to see.
The whole center consists of cozy streets that connect small and large squares with markets, beautiful houses, monasteries, churches, theaters and much more. The best way to experience Brno is to simply walk around and enjoy the city. You should also head out of the center to Mies van der Rohe’s stunning Villa Tugendhat.
In the vicinity of Brno there are many castles, villages and places in nature that are worth visiting. Moravia is home to many caves and a number of sites included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Many of these can easily be reached from Brno and you can combine several sights on the same excursion from the city.
Villa Tugendhat is a villa designed by the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for Fritz and Greta Tugendhat. The house was built 1928-1930 and is a famous example of modernism. The concrete villa then also quickly became an icon for the style with, among other things, the use of space and industrial building materials, and Villa Tugendhat is also inscribed on UNESCO’s list of world cultural heritage sites today.
Mies van der Rohe’s design principle of less is more and focus on functional amenities created a fine example of early functionalist architecture that, at the time of its construction, was groundbreaking in building design at the time. Mies used an iron frame, which made it possible to dispense with supporting walls and arrange the interior in a new way to achieve a sense of space and light.
Villa Tugendhat was created through a collaboration between Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and the designer Lilly Reich, who was responsible for part of the interior design. Among other things, she helped create the chairs MR70 (Tugendhat chair) and MR50 (Brno chair) for the villa. The chairs are both in continued production. You can also see natural materials as decoration of walls; eg onyx from Morocco.
Hrad Špilberk is a castle that stands breathtakingly on a hilltop close to the center of Brno. Špilberk Castle was built in its original form in the 13th century, and the Moravian margraves resided here. Over time, the castle was rebuilt into a large citadel and set up as a prison with its fortifications.
The city of Brno had acquired the castle in 1560, and they built the defenses, which, among other things, held up against Swedish attacks during the Third Years’ War in the 17th century. Later, prisoners were housed until the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph dismantled it in the 1840s.
Hrad Špilberk then became the barracks, and it had that role until 1959, when the Czechoslovak army left the facility. Today you can visit the castle and take a closer look at the building and the history of the city, as the Brno City Museum/Muzea města Brna is located here. The old castle area is also used for cultural events, concerts, etc.
Katedrála svatého Petra a Pavla is the name of Brno’s cathedral. It is a beautiful church building located on Petrov hill in the center of the city. It is a place where a church has stood since at least the 12th century, with a Romanesque church being built in 1140. A larger Gothic basilica was built in the 1230s, but this was partially destroyed in the fire that ravaged Brno in 1306.
The church was continuously and on several occasions rebuilt and expanded over the centuries. The status of the church was also raised in the 1770s, when it became the cathedral of the new bishopric that was established in Brno. During this time, the interior of the church was remodeled in baroque style by Mořic Grimm, and you can still see the result of his work as the primary impression of the church space. The last extension was completed in 1909, when the neo-Gothic towers were completed.
The 84 meter high tower gives the cathedral a distinctive and distinctive profile in the Brno skyline. When you enter the church, you are greeted by a relatively simple church room with beautiful glass mosaics and side chapels. The oldest elements date back to the 17th century, but otherwise the main impression is from the late Baroque with the side altars, the pulpit, the original main altar and other stucco decorations.
Kostel svatého Jakuba Staršího or Saint Jacob’s Church is a church that the German congregation in Brno founded in the 13th century. However, this early Romanesque church was replaced by the current one in late Gothic style, which is the result of several extensions. For example, the choir was built from 1446, and throughout the 1300s and 1400s many side chapels were built in the church.
Sankt Jakob Church is clearly a Gothic construction in its interior, but you can also see the baroque installations and decorations that were added in the years 1750-1766. At this time, the wooden Gothic altar was replaced by the current marble altar. At the end of the 19th century, a new reconstruction was carried out in neo-Gothic style, which restored parts of the building.
The church’s special attraction is the presence of Europe’s second largest ossuary, which were bone houses where excavated bones were kept. Brno Ossuarium/Brněnská kostnice is believed to be the preserved remains of over 50,000 people, making it only the catacombs in Paris that are larger in Europe. The ossuary is open to visitors.
Stará Radnica is Brno’s old town hall, and it stands as one of the city’s best-known buildings. The core of the town hall complex and the 63 meter high town hall tower were built around the year 1240, and it has since been remodeled and expanded several times with, among other things, a chapel in 1424, Renaissance arcades and baroque parts.
The building served as Brno’s town hall until 1935, when the city’s new town hall opened due to lack of space in Stará Radnica. At that time, council meetings had been held in the building since 1343. The Old Town Hall is worth seeing and today functions as a cultural center and information centre. You can also go 63 meters up the town hall tower, from which there is a fine view.
The town hall is also known for the legend of the Brno dragon. According to legend, a dragon lived near the city and it scared the people and ate their livestock. The city council offered a reward for killing the dragon, which was done by making the dragon eat quicklime disguised as a cow. Today, the dragon is a crocodile that hangs in an archway at the town hall. The crocodile was a gift from King Matthias of Hungary in 1608.
Náměstí Svobody is Brno’s central square, and it has had many names over the years before the current Náměstí Svobody, meaning Freedom Square. The square dates from the 13th century and formed a crossroads between three trade routes, which is why it got a slightly triangular shape.
The importance of the square grew in the Middle Ages, when the wealthy built townhouses around it, and when Brno’s Plague Column was erected here in 1679-1683, it became the square’s dominant monument. From the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, many old houses were demolished to make way for new buildings.
The Plague Column/Morový sloup is also called the Mary Column/Mariánský sloup, and the beautiful baroque monument stands as a mark of the overcoming of the plague that ravaged Brno in 1679-1680. The inspiration for the column came from the Mariensäule in Vienna, Austria.
Zelný trh is one of the squares in the center of Brno, and it originated as early as 1190 as a market place for various goods. Later, the market specialized in fruit and vegetables, and since 1340 the square has had its current name. The market has operated as a food market continuously since then and still does.
There are several things to see on and around Zelný trh. The Parnas Fountain/Kašna Parnas is a beautiful Baroque monument designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and built 1690-1695. The fountain shows Hercules’ fight against the underworld Cerberus.
You can also see Dietrichstein Palæ/Dietrichsteinský palác, which was built 1614-1618 as the residence of Cardinal Franz von Dietrichstein. Today, the mansion is the seat of the Moravian Museum/Moravské zemské muzeum, which has large and wide collections with exhibitions in several places.
Reduta Theatre/Divadlo Reduta is also located on Zelný trh and is a theater with a long history. The theater building opened in 1608, making it one of the oldest in Central Europe. Beneath the square is a labyrinth of cellars that were built for food storage, beer fermentation and more.
Mahenovo Divadlo is a large and beautiful theater building in Brno. In 1884, the National Theater in Brno was established. It was modeled after Prague, and the institution consists of several stages, of which the Mahenovo Divadlo building is the most beautiful.
The theater was built in 1882 in a beautiful mix of styles. Back then it was called the Deutsches Stadttheater and was a German stage, which also opened as one of the first public buildings in the world to be completely lit by electricity.
Divadlo Reduta is a theater with a long history. It is one of Europe’s oldest stages, and the current theater building opened in 1608, making it Central Europe’s oldest of its kind.
Theater was played here from the opening, and there were ongoing productions from the 1660s. In 1767, Mozart gave a concert here, and the following year the theater was rebuilt in baroque style. There have been renovations since then, but the place is still a theatre.
Kapucínská hrobka is an interesting crypt located under Brno’s Kapucin Monastery, which served as a burial chamber. The room was put into use in the middle of the 17th century, and the special geology and ventilation were ideal for mummification.
The crypt contains the mummies of former monks. The Capuchins did not use coffins, which they considered an unnecessary luxury in relation to their beliefs, and thereby the mummies lie almost as when the dead monks were laid here.
Moravské Zemské Muzeum is one of the largest museums in the Czech Republic. It was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in the beautiful mansion, Dietrichsteinský palác, on Zelný trh. The museum offers fine historical and ethnographic collections in several buildings in the city and the region.
Dietrichstein Palæ/Dietrichsteinský palác is interesting in itself. It was built 1614-1618 as a residence for Cardinal Franz von Dietrichstein. Over time, several celebrities have stayed in the mansion; for example Empress Maria Theresia and the late Russian General Kutuzov.
Brněnské vávstíště is the name of Brno’s exhibition area, which was established from 1928. Since its opening, the exhibition area and the number of exhibition halls have increased significantly, and Brněnské vávstíště is today the host of many major exhibitions and events in the city.
The exhibition area is architecturally known for Pavilion A, which stands in contemporary functionalism. The pavilion was built as an exhibition hall for industry and commerce, and the curved lines of the hall are the symbol of the area. The large circular Hall Z with dome is also architecturally interesting.
Bazilika Nanebevzetí Panny Marie or Mariæ Himmelfartskatedral is a monastery church whose roots go back to the decades around the year 1000. The current church was built in High Gothic from 1323 to 1334 as a replacement for the original church on the site. It happened at the behest of Queen Elisabeth Richza of Poland.
Construction began, with the queen founding a Cistercian monastery called Aulae Sanctae Mariae next to the pre-Romanesque church in 1323. The church was built as a fine example of the so-called Brick Gothic in the Czech Republic, and after her death in 1335, Elisabeth Richza was also appointed to rest here.
In the 18th century, the interior of the church was remodeled in Baroque style. In the same period, the monastery’s Baroque buildings were also built. From the same time, you can also see the impressive baroque altar from 1736. You can also enjoy the entirety of the beautiful church space, which in its construction followed typical Cistercian architecture.
Janáčkovo divadlo is a large theater building in Brno. It opened in 1965 and since then has been the stage for opera and ballet in the city. The modern theater has a nice audience hall and regularly has fine productions on the programme.
The theater is one of three theaters belonging to the Brno National Theatre/Národní divadlo Brno. The others are Mahenovo divadlo and Divadlo Reduta. The institution was established in 1884 with the National Theater in Prague as a model.
Moravský Kras is a large and well-known karst area located northeast of Brno. There are more than 1,100 caves in the area, and some of the caves in the beautiful natural area with mountains, lakes and forests are accessible to visitors. On one visit, a beautiful world opens up in the caves.
There are five of the cave systems that are open to visitors. The most popular are the caves in Punkva, where you can sail in for the geological experiences. For example, you can also visit the Sloupsko-Šošůvské caves, including Kůlny cave, Balcarka cave and Kateřinská cave. In the area you can also see Propast Macocha, which is a 138 meter deep sinkhole that is like an open cave.
Hrad Veveří is a castle located northwest of the city of Brno. The castle is a former ducal and royal castle, and it is beautifully situated in green surroundings along the winding course of the Svratka River. On a trip here, you can see both the residence and the fortifications, which are also part of the facility.
The castle is believed to have been founded in 1059, when it was built by the Moravian prince Konrád I. Large parts of the structure were built in the 13th and 13th centuries, and it has largely been preserved from that time to the present day. Over the centuries, the castle changed owners many times, and today you can visit the castle and take a closer look at the rooms, halls and surroundings.
Zámek Kroměříž is a castle in the town of Kroměříž, which over time has been the residence of the bishops and archbishops of Olomouc. From the 13th century, the town was owned by the bishops and thereby the church, and they built their residence castle several times. Until the middle of the 17th century, the castle was a Gothic building, until a major Baroque reconstruction was initiated in 1664.
Zámek Kroměříž has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. It is listed together with the site’s beautiful castle garden and two pleasure gardens, which were laid out in elegant Baroque, inspired by Italian gardens in the same style. These are some impressive gardens that you can visit today, and the castle itself is also a fine sight, where you can enjoy both the castle’s interior and one of the Czech Republic’s finest art collections.
The Lednicko-valtický areál is an area that the Dukes of Liechtenstein developed into a beautiful cultural landscape during the 17th-19th centuries. The result of their work and facilities are collectively included on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites.
The area is 283 square kilometers, and there are many places of interest spread across the cultural landscape. The castles of Lednice, Valtice and Hlohovec are some of the most important sights. They were built in combinations of Baroque, Classicism and Neo-Gothic, and English landscaped gardens were laid out around them.
Poutní kostel svatého Jana Nepomuckého is a church built in honor of Jan of Nepomuk, who was martyred in 1393. The church was consecrated in 1720 in a beautiful mixture of Gothic and Baroque. It was the work of architect Jan Blažej Santini Aichel, and he combined Francesco Booromini’s Baroque with Gothic elements. This is clearly seen in the elegant church room, where you can see the style elements in the colorful altar.
Since 1994, the pilgrim church has been included in UNESCO’s world heritage list. It became a pilgrimage church because the Roman Catholic Church declared the tongue of John of Nepomuk incorruptible. It happened in 1719, after which work began on building a church at Zelená hora, where the future saint had received his early education. It was consecrated immediately after the canonization in 1720.
Zámek Litomyšl is a beautiful castle located in the cozy town of Litomyšl. The castle stands as one of the finest and largest Renaissance castle buildings in the Czech Republic, and the site has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.
Historically, Litomyšl developed as a town on the trade routes between Bohemia and Moravia in the 13th century. The town grew, and from 1568 the castle was built. It was designed by Italian architects and was completed in 1581. The castle has beautiful rooms and halls, a castle chapel and a castle garden.
Olomouc is a city on the Morava River in the eastern part of the Czech Republic. The city is first known in documents dated in year 1017, and Olomouc became a bishop’s seat in 1063. The city grew rapidly the following centuries, becoming one of Moravia’s most important cities. However, its rivalry with Brno ended when Sweden captured Olomouc during the Thirty Years’ War. Since then, the city was fortified, and it is once again one of the country’s largest cities.
The central square in the city is called Horní náměstí, and here you can see the Olomouc Town Hall with the famous astronomical clock, which was originally installed in the 15th century. The clock today is a reconstruction from 1955 with socialist motifs. In the square you can also see the Trinity Column, which is included in UNESCO’s list of world cultural heritage. The column is a fine example of Moravian Baroque from the 18th century. The column is 35 meters high and erected 1716-1754.
Třebíč is a town located in the region of Moravia and home to one of Europe’s best-preserved Jewish ghettos. In the ghetto there are over 120 houses, two synagogues and a burial ground. Together with the city’s Saint Procopius Basilika/Bazilika svatého Prokopa, the ghetto is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Jewish Quarter/Židovská čtvrť v Třebíči is the current name of the former ghetto located along the northern bank of the river Jihlava. It is known from sources that there was a synagogue in Třebíč at the end of the 16th century, but stones on the burial ground go back further. The neighborhood is today a pleasant place for a stroll.
Saint Procopius Basilica is a Romanesque-Gothic church that was built as a monastery church in the years 1240-1280. The history of the basilica is connected with the former Benedictine monastery on the site, and over time the monastery was fortified and rebuilt, while the basilica has been preserved in its original style to this day.
You can also take a nice walk in the old town of Třebíč, where Karlovo náměstí is the central square. It is one of the largest squares in the Czech Republic, but after fires in the city in 1821 and 1822, Karlovo náměstí had to be rebuilt, and therefore the original town houses are not located here. Karlovo náměstí is south of the Jihlava River, and you have to cross the river to get to both the Jewish Quarter and the city’s famous basilica.
Telč is a relatively small town famous for having a cozy and quite unique old center with one of the most beautiful market squares in the Czech Republic. The town was probably founded in 1099, and it is known in records dating from 1335. From the middle of the 16th century, Telč’s medieval castle was rebuilt in the Renaissance style, and Gothic houses were rebuilt in the same style.
Despite the city’s modest size, there are great sights in Telč, which since 1992 has been included in UNESCO’s list of world cultural heritage. The center of the town is the elongated market square, Náměstí Zachariáše z Hradce, named after Zacharias of Hradec, who was the master behind the 16th century Renaissance town.
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Brno, Czechia Czech Republic
Overview of Brno
Brno is the capital of Moravia and the second largest city in the Czech Republic. It is a city that has grown at the confluence of the rivers Svitava and Svratka, although these rivers are not visible in the atmospheric center, where you as a tourist can enjoy many lovely walks.
Brno’s highlights are literally St. Peter and Paul Cathedral and Špilberk Castle, both perched on top of some of the hills that draw the city’s landscape and skyline. The two sights are also among the most visited places in Brno, but there is also much else to see.
The whole center consists of cozy streets that connect small and large squares with markets, beautiful houses, monasteries, churches, theaters and much more. The best way to experience Brno is to simply walk around and enjoy the city. You should also head out of the center to Mies van der Rohe’s stunning Villa Tugendhat.
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Náměstí Svobody is Brno’s central square, and it has had many names over the years before the current Náměstí Svobody, meaning Freedom Square. The square dates from the 13th century and formed a crossroads between three trade routes, which is why it got a slightly triangular shape.
The importance of the square grew in the Middle Ages, when the wealthy built townhouses around it, and when Brno’s Plague Column was erected here in 1679-1683, it became the square’s dominant monument. From the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, many old houses were demolished to make way for new buildings.
The Plague Column/Morový sloup is also called the Mary Column/Mariánský sloup, and the beautiful baroque monument stands as a mark of the overcoming of the plague that ravaged Brno in 1679-1680. The inspiration for the column came from the Mariensäule in Vienna, Austria.
Zelný trh is one of the squares in the center of Brno, and it originated as early as 1190 as a market place for various goods. Later, the market specialized in fruit and vegetables, and since 1340 the square has had its current name. The market has operated as a food market continuously since then and still does.
There are several things to see on and around Zelný trh. The Parnas Fountain/Kašna Parnas is a beautiful Baroque monument designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and built 1690-1695. The fountain shows Hercules’ fight against the underworld Cerberus.
You can also see Dietrichstein Palæ/Dietrichsteinský palác, which was built 1614-1618 as the residence of Cardinal Franz von Dietrichstein. Today, the mansion is the seat of the Moravian Museum/Moravské zemské muzeum, which has large and wide collections with exhibitions in several places.
Reduta Theatre/Divadlo Reduta is also located on Zelný trh and is a theater with a long history. The theater building opened in 1608, making it one of the oldest in Central Europe. Beneath the square is a labyrinth of cellars that were built for food storage, beer fermentation and more.
Mahenovo Divadlo is a large and beautiful theater building in Brno. In 1884, the National Theater in Brno was established. It was modeled after Prague, and the institution consists of several stages, of which the Mahenovo Divadlo building is the most beautiful.
The theater was built in 1882 in a beautiful mix of styles. Back then it was called the Deutsches Stadttheater and was a German stage, which also opened as one of the first public buildings in the world to be completely lit by electricity.
Divadlo Reduta is a theater with a long history. It is one of Europe’s oldest stages, and the current theater building opened in 1608, making it Central Europe’s oldest of its kind.
Theater was played here from the opening, and there were ongoing productions from the 1660s. In 1767, Mozart gave a concert here, and the following year the theater was rebuilt in baroque style. There have been renovations since then, but the place is still a theatre.
Kapucínská hrobka is an interesting crypt located under Brno’s Kapucin Monastery, which served as a burial chamber. The room was put into use in the middle of the 17th century, and the special geology and ventilation were ideal for mummification.
The crypt contains the mummies of former monks. The Capuchins did not use coffins, which they considered an unnecessary luxury in relation to their beliefs, and thereby the mummies lie almost as when the dead monks were laid here.
Moravské Zemské Muzeum is one of the largest museums in the Czech Republic. It was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in the beautiful mansion, Dietrichsteinský palác, on Zelný trh. The museum offers fine historical and ethnographic collections in several buildings in the city and the region.
Dietrichstein Palæ/Dietrichsteinský palác is interesting in itself. It was built 1614-1618 as a residence for Cardinal Franz von Dietrichstein. Over time, several celebrities have stayed in the mansion; for example Empress Maria Theresia and the late Russian General Kutuzov.
Brněnské vávstíště is the name of Brno’s exhibition area, which was established from 1928. Since its opening, the exhibition area and the number of exhibition halls have increased significantly, and Brněnské vávstíště is today the host of many major exhibitions and events in the city.
The exhibition area is architecturally known for Pavilion A, which stands in contemporary functionalism. The pavilion was built as an exhibition hall for industry and commerce, and the curved lines of the hall are the symbol of the area. The large circular Hall Z with dome is also architecturally interesting.
Bazilika Nanebevzetí Panny Marie or Mariæ Himmelfartskatedral is a monastery church whose roots go back to the decades around the year 1000. The current church was built in High Gothic from 1323 to 1334 as a replacement for the original church on the site. It happened at the behest of Queen Elisabeth Richza of Poland.
Construction began, with the queen founding a Cistercian monastery called Aulae Sanctae Mariae next to the pre-Romanesque church in 1323. The church was built as a fine example of the so-called Brick Gothic in the Czech Republic, and after her death in 1335, Elisabeth Richza was also appointed to rest here.
In the 18th century, the interior of the church was remodeled in Baroque style. In the same period, the monastery’s Baroque buildings were also built. From the same time, you can also see the impressive baroque altar from 1736. You can also enjoy the entirety of the beautiful church space, which in its construction followed typical Cistercian architecture.
Janáčkovo divadlo is a large theater building in Brno. It opened in 1965 and since then has been the stage for opera and ballet in the city. The modern theater has a nice audience hall and regularly has fine productions on the programme.
The theater is one of three theaters belonging to the Brno National Theatre/Národní divadlo Brno. The others are Mahenovo divadlo and Divadlo Reduta. The institution was established in 1884 with the National Theater in Prague as a model.
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