On the strong walls of Brno, more than one commander "broke his teeth" in the past. The city was tested by the Hussites, Swedes, Turks and the Prussian army. Only the cunning Napoleon did not lay siege to the bastions in vain, but simply ordered to blow up a solid ring of defensive walls. Today, a ring road runs on the site of the former fortifications.
Brno is surrounded by a picturesque green plain where medieval castles are lost. And in the city itself, the tourist will definitely have something to do with his time: ancient squares and quarters beckon to look around the corner, make another turn and get off the planned route. City cathedrals still remember the melodious chants of past centuries. Their eerie crypts are still full of dark secrets.
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What to see and where to go in Brno?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Špilberk Castle
The castle was built in the 13th century and initially served as the seat of kings and margraves. By the 17th century, it began to acquire baroque features and lose its Gothic appearance. During the Austrian monarchy, a prison for dangerous criminals was organized on the territory of Spielberk. The gloomy torture chamber worked until the middle of the 19th century. He "became famous" as the most severe dungeon of the Austrian Empire. Today, the castle houses an exposition of the city museum.
Villa Tugendhat
A functionalist villa built by the architect L.M. van der Rohe in the 1930s. He also worked on the interior design of the building. In 2001, the building was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The villa was built from exotic materials using advanced technologies at that time, so its construction cost a decent amount. The owners of the building left the country in 1938, so over time it became the property of the city.
Freedom Square
Freedom Square is the largest in Brno and one of the oldest. It appeared in the distant XIII century. In the Middle Ages, it was surrounded by houses of wealthy townspeople, which were rebuilt in the neo-Renaissance style in the 19th-20th centuries. In the middle of the square stands the Plague Column monument, erected in 1648 after the liberation of Brno from Swedish troops and getting rid of the threat of a plague epidemic.
Vegetable market square
Since the 13th century, vegetables and poultry have been traded on the square, which is why it got that name. Over time, magnificent palaces surrounded it, but the bazaar continued to work regularly (it still exists today). In the center of the square is the 17th century Baroque Parnassus fountain. The sculptural group depicts three civilizations: Greek, Persian and Babylonian. In the middle, Europe sits on a defeated dragon.
Old Town Hall
Brno Town Hall was built in 1240 in the Gothic style. Until 1935, its appearance was changing, acquiring elements of the Baroque and Renaissance. The city council has met in this building since the end of the 14th century. In the 20th century, he moved to a new location. Today, the City Hall houses the Brno Cultural Center, where exhibitions and various events take place. Tourists at the entrance are greeted by locals in national costumes.
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
Catholic church in honor of the holy apostles. According to sources, it was founded in the XI-XII (XIII) centuries. At first it was built in the Romanesque style, and several centuries later it was rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style. The interior of the cathedral is made in the Baroque style. Two symmetrical towers 84 meters in height were erected at the beginning of the 20th century according to the project of A. Kirstein. The building is recognized as one of the most valuable architectural monuments in South Moravia.
Capuchin monastery
The monastery is located on the square of the same name, which at first glance will not attract the attention of a tourist. Only the Baroque monastery church is accessible for inspection, the rest of the buildings are not so easy to reach. Inside the monastery there is a crypt with the mummies of the first monks. The brothers were buried here in this form until the prohibitive decree of Joif II of Habsburg. Today the tomb is open to the public.
Church of St. James
The church was built in the 13th century in the Gothic style. In the 16th century, a Renaissance tower over 90 meters high was added to it. Not so long ago, the remains of more than 50 thousand people were discovered in the temple catacombs. The fact is that the local cemetery was filled back in the Middle Ages and the old bones were simply piled under the slabs of the church to make room for new graves. So over time, a large ossuary was formed.
Brno Technical Museum
In the museum you can see a collection of local vintage cars, rare clock mechanisms, cameras, typewriters and other devices. It also presents the achievements of the aviation industry and the field of computing technology. The collection is located in 11 thematic rooms and occupies a rather impressive area. The museum has a library, a lecture hall and a scientific laboratory.
Moravian Gallery
The collection of the museum occupies as many as five buildings: Prazhukov and Mistrodzhitelsky palaces, Yurkovich's villa, J. Hoffmann's house and another city mansion. The Moravian Gallery is considered the second most important in the Czech Republic after the National Gallery in Prague. In addition to paintings, it exhibits objects of decorative and applied art: ceramics, textiles, glass products and other masterpieces created by Czech craftsmen.
Moravian Museum
The museum was founded in 1817. Today it is the largest and oldest in Moravia. His collection contains about 6 million copies, which are located in several buildings. The main exhibition is located in a 17th century Baroque mansion - Dietrichstein Palace. He became famous for the fact that the reigning persons visited here, and also Field Marshal M.I.Kutuzov stayed for several days.
Museum of gypsy culture
A unique exhibition that tells about the culture and life of the Moravian Roma. The museum opened in 2003 after 12 years of collecting exhibits from all over the Czech Republic and neighboring countries for a future exhibition. Its appearance was made possible thanks to state funding and private donations from the sedentary Roma of Brno. The museum has a library where rare documents and books are kept.
Observatory and Planetarium
A scientific and entertainment complex designed to attract the attention of visitors to the sciences and to popularize natural science. The main focus of attention, of course, is on the Cosmos - its properties, riddles, problems and prospects. The complex includes a large and small planetarium, an observatory equipped with modern telescopes, an "explorarium" and an observation deck.
VIDA! Science Center
Scientific and experimental center, where there is a lot of interesting things for adults and children. Visitors can conduct their own experiments here with the help of exhibits and study natural phenomena, comprehend physical laws. Sometimes the center hosts colorful shows, where complex phenomena are told in a playful way, but these performances are given only in Czech.
Magen Theater
The building of the theater stage was built at the end of the 19th century according to the design of the Austrian masters G. Gellner and F. Fellner in a mixed style with elements of neo-baroque, neo-Renaissance and neoclassicism. Electric lighting was installed in the theater, which was a great luxury at that time. Today there are dramatic performances on the stage, and the troupe of the Brno National Theater performs here.
Janacek Theater
Brno Opera Stage, founded in 1965. The name is given in honor of the Czech composer. The architectural competition for the best design of the future theater was held from 1910 to 1957. As a result, a laconic and functional design won out without any classical or baroque elements.The auditorium is designed for 1300 people. Since its foundation, more than 20 ballet and opera premieres have taken place on the stage.
Moravian Karst
The karst massif is 25 km long and 2 to 6 km wide. On its territory there are more than 1000 caves, but only 4 of them are open for visiting: Balzarka, Punkva, Stolbno-Shoshuvskaya and Katarzhinskaya. This natural attraction is equally sought after by tourists and locals alike. The Moravian Karst is one of the most impressive cave systems in all of Europe.
Macoch Abyss
Natural monument in the vicinity of Brno on the territory of the Moravian Karst. Residents of the city and surrounding villages for a long time believed that the abyss had no bottom at all, until the local monk Lazar Shopper descended into it at the beginning of the 18th century. But people still continued to tell dark stories about this place. The fault was formed as a result of the collapse of the vaults of a large cave. Its length is about 180 meters, the maximum depth is 135 meters.
Veveří castle
Medieval castle 13 km from Brno, located on a verdant promontory near the Brno reservoir. It is one of the oldest and largest in the whole Czech Republic. According to legend, Veveří was founded in the 11th century by Konrad I of Brno. The building has gone through several sieges and rebuildings. During the Second World War, it was destroyed during the fighting. Large-scale recovery began already in the 21st century.
Pernstein Castle
The family estate of the noble family of Pernsteins, located about 40 km from Brno on a rocky hill. The family lived here until the end of the 16th century. The building was erected in the 13th century in the Gothic style. Over the next centuries, minor changes were made to its appearance. Today tourists see the castle from the 16th century. In the past, it has often become a film set for historical films.
Slavkov Castle
The second name of the castle is Austerlitz, after the name of the city known since the Napoleonic Wars. The very first building stood on the site of a baroque palace back in the 13th century. Then it was redone in the Renaissance style, but only by the beginning of the 19th century it acquired the features of an elegant and magnificent baroque. It was in Slavkov in 1805 that France and Austria signed an agreement after the devastating (primarily for the Russian Empire) Battle of Austerlitz.
Tomb of the world
Memorial complex dedicated to the many victims of the Battle of Austerlitz. The main object of the composition is the Mound of Peace, which is located on the battlefield and towers over the surrounding landscape. The monument looks like a mound. There is a cross at its top, and at the edges there are figures with shields, symbolizing the countries participating in the battle. There is a chapel and a crypt inside the mound.
Brno Zoo
The menagerie appeared in Brno in 1937. In 1953 he moved to his current location. The zoo is home to over 300 species of animals (1500 thousand individuals). The number of guests is growing, as the animals give birth to offspring. The local collection of birds and reptiles deserves special attention. There is a mini-zoo for children with piglets, kids and pet rabbits.
Park "Luzhanki"
The park is located near the historic center of Brno. Since the 16th century, it has been known as the "Jesuit Garden", as these lands used to belong to the Order of St. Ignatius. After the abolition of this monastic association, according to the imperial decree, the park was transferred to the city. By that time, he demanded renewal, which was what the chief gardener of Brno A. Bisinger did. In 1788 "Luzhanki" was opened to the public.
Ignis Brunensis
Fireworks parade that takes place annually in Brno. Thousands of tourists come to admire this spectacle. The festival usually lasts two weeks. Within its framework, evening colorful shows are organized every day, where participants blow up the most bizarre fireworks, trying to impress the jury and the audience. There are other interesting events in the parade program.
