Brno’s wonderful old town and its many attractions definitely make it worth a visit, especially if you’re heading towards Prague.
Brno is the Czech Republic‘s second most significant city and the largest city in Moravia. Its importance is evidenced by being the seat of the country’s judiciary and numerous administrative institutions.
The city is an important exhibition, fair, and motorsport venue. The Brno Exhibition Centre is among Europe’s largest such complexes and ranks 23rd globally. Additionally, the Automotodrom located on the city’s outskirts hosts renowned motor and other races.
Table of Contents
Brno attractions
Špilberk Castle
The castle, situated on a hilltop in the western part of the downtown area, offers a beautiful view of the city.
Built in the 13th century by the Přemyslid kings and completed during the reign of King Ottokar II of Bohemia, it became the residence of the Moravian margraves in the 14th century and gradually turned into a massive baroque fortress serving as the strictest prison of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and later a barracks. The Czechoslovak army left the castle in 1959, ending its military use.
Francis Kazinczy, along with his companions, was imprisoned here for the last three months of 1795. A marble plaque on the castle wall commemorates this period.
The castle houses the Brno City Museum, showcasing Brno’s rich past through exhibitions, including its industrial, social, and artistic development. It also offers insights into the region’s ethnography and history.
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
Located in the southwest part of the downtown area, this building is one of the city and Moravia’s most defining structures.
The original Romanesque chapel was continuously rebuilt and expanded: by the 13th century, a Romanesque basilica stood there, later transformed into early Gothic style. In the 18th century, the church’s interior was completely renovated in the Baroque style under the direction of Mořic Grimm, removing the Gothic elements. However, it was restored in the Neo-Gothic style at the end of the 19th century.
It gained its final form in the early 20th century, including the completion of its distinctive 84-meter-high towers. Uniquely, the bells ring at 11 o’clock due to a legend.
Old Town Hall
Existing since the Middle Ages, it acquired its current form in the 13th century. The tower also serves as a lookout, offering a beautiful panorama.
Over the centuries, it has been rebuilt multiple times but retained its Gothic and Renaissance features. The town hall served not only as the center of municipal government but also as a venue for city events, celebrations, and markets. In the 20th century, it functioned more as a cultural and tourist center.
Inside, there is an impressive Renaissance hall with frescoed ceilings and the famous Brno dragon, which is actually a stuffed crocodile.
Astronomical Clock
Located in the main square, Náměstí Svobody, this black stone monument is a unique feature of Brno.
Interestingly, every day at 11 o’clock, the clock releases a glass marble, which spectators can catch from one of its four openings as a souvenir. The clock was unveiled on September 18, 2010, to mark the 365th anniversary of Brno’s resistance against the Swedish siege.
Statue of the Knight
On Moravian Square, a slightly amusing statue has become a popular attraction.
The statue stands out not so much for its „giraffe” height, but for the horse’s disproportionately long legs, which rise directly from the ground (the statue has no base), allowing people to freely walk between the legs.
Saint James’ Church
Situated in the historic center of Brno, it serves as a prime example of Gothic architectural style.
The church, built in the 13th century, underwent several transformations in the 15th and 16th centuries, further accentuating its Gothic features. This is evident in its exterior with long, slender towers and lacy decorative elements.
The interior is characterized by high vaults and slender pillars. The stained glass windows contain colorful and detailed depictions of biblical stories and saints.
Church of the Holy Cross of the Capuchins
The church is located on Capuchin Square (Kapucínské náměstí) and was built between 1648 and 1651 in the Baroque style.
A main attraction is the crypt of the „shrunken monks”. Originally, the crypt contained the 200-year-old mummified and shrunken bodies of 153 Capuchin monks. Today, only 40 are visible. The unusual preservation of the monks is attributed to the crypt’s climate and ventilation system, which preserved their dried earthly remains.
Tugendhat Villa
Considered the first modern architectural monument in present-day Czech Republic and the fourth globally.
The building, with its vast glass surfaces, was originally built for Fritz Tugendhat, a textile manufacturer from Brno. The villa is a principal work of functionalist architecture from the interwar period. It was designed in 1928 by the famous German architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, on one of the city’s hillside areas.
Notably, every second of the enormous floor-to-ceiling glass walls can disappear beneath the floor at the push of a button.
A complete renovation was completed in 2012, and it has since been open to visitors.
Bunker 10-Z
A symbolic remnant of the Cold War era.
Originally built for the Luftwaffe during World War II, it later served as a facility used by the Soviet Union. The bunker’s interior is located deep underground, structured as a multi-level labyrinth.
Today, it operates as a museum, presenting the history of the Cold War, with a special focus on the nuclear threat and civil defense. Original equipment can be seen, including communication devices, air filtration systems, and other survival gear.
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VIDA! Science Center
An interactive science center that offers great experiences for both adults and children.
The center features numerous interactive exhibits that explore different aspects of natural sciences, mathematics, physics, biology, and engineering. Visitors can directly experience scientific phenomena and theories at experimental stations.
All information here!
Moravian Museum
One of the oldest and largest museums in the Czech Republic, it showcases the rich historical, cultural, natural, and artistic heritage of the Moravian region.
Its collection includes archaeological findings that reveal the region’s ancient history, as well as natural science objects, including paleontological, geological, and biological collections. The museum also boasts a significant art collection, ranging from medieval works to modern art.
Among the museum’s highlights are the archaeological treasures of the Moravian region, such as the Venus of Věstonice, one of the world’s oldest ceramics.
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