Brno Travel Guide

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ANREISE
BRNO
WORTH SEEING
MUSIC & THEATER
CHURCHES
MUSEUMS
IGNIS BRUNENSIS
IMPRINT

Arrival

Visitors to Brno arriving by train can enjoy excellent views
of Brno Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul),
towering high above the city, right from the platform.
The city center is just a few minutes' walk away, and
numerous trams and buses also run directly from the train
station to the city center.
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Connection
The railway line from Graz via Vienna to Berlin runs directly through Brno. The
comfortable ÖBB Railjet continues on to Prague and Berlin. From Vienna, the train
reaches Brno in less than 90 minutes.
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Brno

Fontána Socha Spravedlnosti (Statue of Justice)
Brno is the second-largest city in the Czech Republic and
forms the historic heart of Moravia. Approximately
380,000 people live in its 29 districts. The city's name
derives from Brno Castle, which was built between 1021
and 1034. In 1243, Wenceslas I founded Brno as a royal
city with special privileges. The Špilberk Fortress, one of
Brno's most famous landmarks, was first mentioned in
writing in 1277. From 1349 onward, Brno served as the
residence of the Margraves of Moravia. In 1641, Brno was
declared the capital of Moravia.
Over the centuries, Brno has been repeatedly affected by
military conflicts. During the Thirty Years' War, the Swedes
besieged the city twice, and during the First Silesian War,
Prussian troops advanced against Brno.
The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the "Battle of the
Three Emperors," took place near Brno in 1805, in which
Napoleon I defeated both the Austrian and Russian forces.
Today, Brno is known primarily for its hospitality and its
numerous inviting inns serving excellent beer and hearty
food. The city lies on the railway line between Vienna and
Prague and has excellent public transport connections.
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Worth seeing

Stará radnice (Old town hall)
Brno's historic town hall served as the city's administrative
center from 1373 to 1935. It is the oldest secular building
within the city limits. Its origins can be traced back to 1240,
when a single-story structure with a tower was built. Visitors to
the town hall should definitely visit the gallery and the
historical rooms.
A climb up the 63-meter-high tower is also highly
recommended.
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It actually appears as if the elaborately crafted central turret,
known in technical terminology as a pinnacle, is about to fall
on anyone passing through the gate.
According to tradition, the portal's creator, Anton Pilgram, was
dissatisfied with the compensation, and when his request for
additional payment was not met, he deliberately built the
turret crooked.
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According to legend, a dragon lived near Brno, frightening the
city's residents and eating their domestic animals. The so-called
"Brno Dragon" was actually a crocodile presented to Brno as a
gift by the Hungarian King Matthias II.
According to legend, on May 14, 1636, the carpenter George
(Jiri) Birk from Lednice crafted a wheel constructed without a
single nail. It rolled 54 kilometers to Brno that same day.
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Further legends can be discovered on the western exterior wall
of the Old Town Hall. A sinister stone face protrudes from the
wall there. According to tradition, this spot marks the spot
where a traitorous councilor was immured in the wall in 1424
during the Hussite Wars.
The city of Brno had sided with Emperor Sigismund in the war,
but according to legend, the councilor attempted to open the
city gates to the Hussites.
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Brněnský orloj (Astronomical clock)
Every day at 11:00 a.m., exactly at the sound of the "midday
bells" of St. Petrov Cathedral, a chime sounds in the
Astronomical Clock. From the interior of the clock, which is
designed to resemble a bullet, a glass ball rolls out, which a
lucky catcher can take home as a souvenir.
The design of the clock commemorates the defense against the
Swedes.
The falling ball, meanwhile, stands as a symbol of protection
and peace. The clock embodies the unstoppable flow of time.
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Morový sloup (Plague column)
The Plague Column was built in 1679. An artificial grotto was
created as its base, in which St. Rosalia (patron saint of
Palermo) rests. The saint is considered a protector against the
plague in the Catholic Church. An impressive statue of the
Virgin Mary sits on the column's capital.
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Socha Markrabě Jošta (Margrave Jobst on horseback)
In 2015, the sculpture of Moravian Margrave Jobst, designed
by Czech artist Jaroslav Róna, was erected. The horse's
outstretched legs are reminiscent of a giraffe. The rider's closed
visor lends the statue a particularly mysterious aura.
The sculpture stands in the historic market square and attracts
both locals and tourists fascinated by its unusual combination
of medieval symbolism and modern design.
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Zelný trh (Cabbage Market)
The Cabbage Market has served as the city's central
marketplace since the 13th century. Until the 15th century, it
was known as the "Upper Market." Merchants display their
wares around the Baroque Parnas Fountain, created by Fischer
von Erlach.
Below the square stretches a sprawling labyrinth of corridors
and rooms. It once served as a storage area and escape route.
Numerous cafés and boutiques line the surrounding streets,
inviting visitors to linger.
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Kašna Parnas (Parnassus Fountain)
The Baroque-style fountain was built between 1690 and 1695.
Its planning and design were the work of Johann Bernhard
Fischer von Erlach. At the top of the fountain is a statue
depicting Europa. The statue symbolizes not only the
mythological figure of Europe, but also the connection
between continents and cultures. It is surrounded by other
allegorical figures representing elements such as rivers and the
seasons, creating a harmonious union of art and nature.
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Sloup Nejsvětější Trojice (Trinity Column)
The upper part of the Cabbage Market is dominated by a
Trinity Column from 1729.
The column serves not only as a religious symbol but also as an
art-historical testament to Baroque sculpture, which
characterizes the square as a whole and invites visitors to
linger.v
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Magistrát města Brna (New town hall)
As early as the first half of the 13th century, the parliament of
the Moravian estates met here. Particularly striking in the
courtyards are the fountain depicting the allegory of the twelve
months, as well as the imposing gargoyle.
Over the centuries, the building has been expanded and
redesigned several times, blending various architectural styles.
Particularly noteworthy are the Gothic vaults and Baroque
decorations, which lend the building a unique atmosphere.
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Hrad Špilberk (Spielberg Castle)
King Přemysl Otakar II had the castle built on Špilberk in 1250;
at that time, he was still a Moravian Landgrave. A walk
through the dungeon and casemates brings the fortress's past
as a feared prison back to life. Guests can enjoy a meal at a
restaurant within the castle complex. The observation tower in
the inner part of the castle complex offers a charming view
over Brno.
The castle has served as a military fortification since ancient
times; today, art and culture can be found within its walls.
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Hrad Veveří (Eichhorn Castle)
Eichhorn Castle was first mentioned in writing in 1222. This
castle, originally built as a royal fortress of Bohemia, has been
extensively restored and is definitely a worthwhile destination.
Veveří Castle is located on the shores of the Brno Reservoir.
Winston Churchill was a frequent guest of this castle. Veveří
Castle impresses not only with its historical significance but also
with its picturesque location, which attracts numerous visitors.
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Zoo Brno (Brno Zoo)
As early as 1935, an organization was founded with the goal
of establishing a zoo in Brno. The zoo officially opened in
1953. Today, nearly 1,700 animals from approximately 370
different species live there.
The zoo has continuously developed over the decades and
today places great emphasis on the protection of endangered
species and environmental education for its visitors. Numerous
modern enclosures and near-natural habitats provide the
animals with optimal conditions.
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Music & Theater

Divadlo Reduta (Reduta Theater)
The history of the Reduta Theater dates back to 1605, when
the first municipal theater opened on this site. Over the
centuries, the building was destroyed by fire several times.
After extensive renovations in the 1950s, the theater served as
a venue for the Czech operetta scene for about four decades.
In 2005, it underwent further renovations, making it one of the
three venues of the National Theater in Brno. In 1767, the
eleven-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed here.
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Janáčkovo divadlo (Janáček-Theater)
When it opened in 1965, the Janáček Theatre was considered
the largest and most technically advanced theatre building in
what was then Czechoslovakia. Since its founding in 1965, the
National Theatre Brno – Janáček Theatre has primarily
presented opera and ballet performances.
The theatre building impresses not only with its striking
architecture but also with its excellent acoustics and modern
stage technology, which enable it to stage sophisticated
productions of the highest quality.
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Mahenovo divadlo (Mahen-Theater)
The Mahen Theatre was built between 1881 and 1883 as a
German city theatre. It was the first fully electrified theatre
building in Brno. In 1919, it became the stage of the Brno
National Theatre.
Premieres of operas by Leoš Janáček were held here. Since its
opening, this theatre has enjoyed great popularity.
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Churches

Kostel svatého Michala (St. Michael Church)
St. Michael's Church is closely linked to the work of the
Dominican Order in Brno. As early as the 13th century, the
church was an integral part of the Dominican monastery.
The cathedral's Baroque terrace is decorated with stone statues
of saints. The church is not open to the public.
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Katedrála sv. Petra a Pavla (St. Peter and Paul)
The origins of the church date back to 1180, when Margrave
Konrad Otto commissioned its construction. During the chaos
of the Thirty Years' War, the building was severely damaged
and extensively rebuilt from 1743 to 1745. In 1777, St. Peter
and Paul became the cathedral of the Diocese of Brno.
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Noon bell rings at 11 a.m.
The midday bells from Brno Cathedral are heard not at 12
noon as usual, but at 11 a.m. The explanation for this peculiarity
can be found in a legend from the Thirty Years'
War:
The city of Brno was defended against the Swedes under
the command of a very clever general, Jean-Louis Raduit
de Souches. From May 4 to August 15, 1645, the
Swedish army under Lennart Torstensson, Count of Ortala,
besieged the city. Despite heavy shelling, the Swedes
were unable to capture the fortified city of Brno.
Finally, Torstensson, already growing impatient, promised
his soldiers that he would abandon the siege if he failed
to capture Brno by the midday bells on August 15. On
that day—the battle was in full swing—Souches gave the
order for the midday bells to ring an hour earlier.
The Swedes left, and since then Brno has been “an hour
ahead” of everyone else – at least as far as the midday
bell is concerned.
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Červený kostel (Red Church)
The "Christ Church" was consecrated in 1867. After World War
II, the church was transferred to the Evangelical Church of the
Czech Brethren and renamed "Jan Ámos Komenský Church."
Because of its red bricks, the building is popularly known as the
"Red Church."
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Kostel sv. Jakuba (St. James's Church)
The first written records date back to 1228. Colonists from
Germany and Flanders celebrated their mass here. The church
in its current form was completed in 1592.
Here you can also find the tomb of Jean-Louis Raduit de
Souches, who defended the city against the Swedes.
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Kostel sv Tomáše (St. Thomas Church)
In 1350, Margrave John Henry of Luxembourg commissioned
the brother of Emperor Charles IV to build an Augustinian
monastery. The church was destroyed during the Thirty Years'
War and rebuilt from 1665 to 1675.
The painting of the Revelation of Christ to the Apostles is one
of the church's great treasures.
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Museums

Kostnice u sv. Jakuba (St. James's Ossuary)
The ossuary beneath St. James's Church is one of the largest in
Europe, with more than 50,000 bones. The bones come from
the church in Petrov, which was dissolved in 1784.
Over the centuries, the vault fell into obscurity and was
accidentally rediscovered in 2001. It has been open to visitors
since 2012.
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Labyrint pod Zelným (Labyrinth at Cabbage Market)
The labyrinth beneath the Cabbage Market is comprised of the
relics of the cellars of former residential buildings.
The extensive network of chambers and passageways, located
approximately 6 to 8 meters below the market square, was
used for storing food and also served as a place of refuge in
threatening situations. The narrow passageways and partially
damp walls still bear witness to the long history and diverse
uses of this underground complex.
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Kryt 10-Z (Nuclear bunker)
The bunker complex was built during the Nazi era. After the
end of the war, the shelter, located in the rock below Spielberg
Fortress, served as a commercial space for a wine wholesaler.
Between 1948 and 1959, the bunker was expanded by the
communist regime to provide protection against nuclear
attacks. In the decades that followed, the bunker remained
largely unused and fell into obscurity.
In the course of historical research, the complex returned to
public attention.
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Kapucínská hrobka (Capuchin Crypt)
The Capuchins have been in Brno since 1604. Construction of
the city's first Capuchin monastery also began in that year.
Since the mid-17th century, the crypt has served as the
monastery's crypt.
Here, the dead dried out naturally and mummified without
embalming. Emperor Joseph II banned this type of burial in
1784.
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Muzeum města Brna (Brno City Museum)
The Brno City Museum is housed in several buildings. The
Špilberk Fortress houses the museum, administration, and
archives. Other museums belonging to the complex include the
Menin Gate and the Villa Tugendhat, an important building by
the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The
impregnable fortress developed into one of Europe's most
notorious prisons, the so-called "Dungeon of Nations."
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Diecézní muzeum (Diocesan Museum)
The Diocesan Museum features the permanent exhibition "Vita
Christi – The Life of Christ." It features Gothic and Baroque
exhibits from the churches and parishes of the Brno Diocese.
The museum is particularly proud of the painting "Madonna of
Eichhorn," dating from the 1340s.
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Ignis Brunensis

Ignis Brunensis
Brno hosts major fireworks festivals every year. International
competitions for the most outstanding fireworks displays take
place at the Brno Reservoir. The concluding fireworks display is
presented in the city at Špilberk Castle. Admission to the
fireworks display is free. In addition to fireworks, AI-assisted
drone shows are also presented. As part of the Ignis Brunensis
festival, visitors can also enjoy musical performances, culinary
stalls, and craft markets.
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Imprint

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The team
This e-book was made possible through the kind support of the
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