The Moravian capital of Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic and gateway to the fertile vineyards of South Moravia. The city’s Old Town Hall is guarded by a two-metre dragon, and one of its gems is the Functionalist Villa Tugendhat which is included in the prestigious UNESCO list.
A dominant feature of Brno is the Gothic Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul on Petrov Hill, which is linked to several legends and which saved the city from the Swedish army during the Thirty Years War. Špilberk fortress rises up to the sky opposite the cathedral, formerly a highly feared prison, which is now used as a museum and gallery. The greatest architectural boast of the city is however Villa Tugendhat. The building itself and its interiors still fascinate visitors in the 21st century. Come and listen to the profound story of this Functionalist gem.
The youngest astronomical clock and Mozart
Náměstí Svobody is the natural centre of the city, where fairs and various celebrations are held several times a year. The people of Brno had a modern astronomical clock built here in 2010 from black granite in the shape of a shell casing. Every day at 11 am, a marble is ejected from it thus symbolising the Petrov legend. The people of Brno like to buy their fresh vegetables at nearby Zelný trh. On this picturesque little square you can also find two theatre buildings. In Reduta, the current building of the National Theatre in Brno, Amadeus Mozart played to the Brno public as a young boy and the experimental theatre Husa na provázku played an important role in protests against the communist regime. Its work is regarded as some of the highest quality theatre on the contemporary Czech scene.
Don’t be superficial, visit the historical underground
As a university city, Brno offers its inhabitants and visitors several galleries and museums. You can for example choose from the programme of the Moravian Gallery in Brno, the Mendel Museum, the City Museum in Brno or the Moravian Regional Museum. But Brno will also be happy to give you a peek below the surface too. It recently opened a system of corridors in its underground to visitors.
Where to go to outside of the city
Brno’s surroundings are also lovely. We recommend you visit Slavkov Chateau and the Peace Mound, where the Battle of Austerlitz took place in 1805, or the nearby caves of Moravian Karst.