15 Best Things to See in Brno (Czech Republic)

The second largest city in the Czech Republic, Brno, is known for its diligence, even though business accounts for a very minor portion of this peculiar city’s history. The Svitava and Svratka Rivers meet in Brno, which served as Moravia’s capital from the 1100s until the end of the communist era. Naturally, a lot of heritage remains, and you can take in a great deal of Gothic and baroque sights on the cobblestone streets of the Old Town. However, Brno’s devotion to the bizarre, amazing, and downright spooky is what truly defines the city. In our list of the top things to do in Brno, let us explain.

Macocha Abyss

This sinkhole is like something out of a fantasy film and is located 30 minutes north of the city. A portion of the Punkva cave system, the Macocha Abyss draws both serious underground explorers and casual visitors who wish to see the deepest sinkhole in Central Europe. The Abyss came about when the ceiling of a deep cave collapsed, and the feature is part of a vast and labyrinthine network of tunnels that you can navigate on a guided tour on foot and then by boat once you approach the cathedral-like Abyss. A trail that winds through the rocky landscape in the open is popular with walkers and cyclists.

Brno Moto GP

The city’s motorcycle racetrack is another feature that makes Brno famous worldwide. Since 1930, Brno has had a connection to this form of motorsport, and for many years, the Masaryk Circuit here was a dangerous cobblestone street race. The Brno became a staple of the World Grand Prix after this course was asphalted in the 1960s, and the street circuit was subsequently replaced by a purpose-built venue in 1987. Every year in August, the Moto GP comes to town, bringing with it three days of fast-paced action and the best riders in the world.

The Church of Saint James

This church, a lovely national landmark, has been standing for almost 500 years after it was built in the early 1200s. Although it is a beautiful Gothic structure with lofty vaulted ceilings, recent excavations have revealed an underground feature that is very ominous. The largest ossuary in Europe after the Paris Catacombs is accessible if you dare. The bones and skulls of almost 50,000 people are packed into the 2012 opening, which is decorated with stacks and decorations.

Gregor Mendel’s Abbey and Museum

One of the most significant scientists of the 19th century, the father of genetics, lived nearly his whole life in Brno. Visit the garden where he did his well-known studies on pea plants in the Abbey of Saint Thomas to learn more about the mysteries of heredity. For more information on his methodology and how his early trials with breeding mice drew the ire of the church, visit the Mendel Museum outside of the old town. You can also learn about his beekeeping experiments, but these had a less significant effect on the development of history.

Brno’s Parks

As the first public park in what is now the Czech Republic, Luánky Park has been designated as a national monument. When the Jesuits were expelled in the late 1790s, Luánky was laid out in the French formal style and later developed more into a botanic garden with an ornamental stream. The Jesuits were involved in its founding and used these grounds for meditation and repose. In the meantime, Denis Gardens link Pilberk Castle and Peter and Paul Cathedral. The park is full of surprises, including exquisite colonnades and gazebos from the 19th century, for those who have the stamina to climb the slope. There are platforms with lookouts that provide Brno’s most romantic vista, without a doubt.

The Cabbage Market

A marketplace that has likewise been in existence since the 1200s is located above the underworld. In addition to looking at some of the nearby monuments, you may still purchase veggies at the farmers’ market. One of these is the Hercules statue in the Parnas Fountain. According to legend, fishmongers used to display their stock by letting their carp swim in the fountain water. A concert hall from the Renaissance era is located on the south side of the Reduta Theatre. An 11-year-old Mozart and his sister gave a performance here in 1767.

The Town Hall’s Curios

Here is where things start to get a little crazy. In the passageway below the tower, there appears to be a sizable taxidermied crocodile hanging from the ceiling. But don’t be deceived; you’ve entered the realm of the fabled Brno dragon. This beast terrorized the locals and their animals in the early years of the city, and a butcher eventually came up with the brilliant idea of packing lime inside a fur sack. The dragon drank so much water to satisfy its thirst after consuming the bag that it eventually perished. The Brno wheel, a wagon wheel allegedly constructed and carried from the city of Teplice 45 kilometers away in just 12 hours as part of a medieval wager, is displayed on the wall here. It represents the strong work ethic of Brno.

Brno Underground

Under the Cabbage Market in the old town is a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers. These were made available to the general public in 2011 as part of an engaging 40-minute walking tour. The square above was constructed in the 1200s, and many of the winding corridors beneath it are ancient as well. Here, you can witness how food was stored in the Middle Ages, see a former wine cellar, and explore an actual alchemist’s workshop. There is a dark side, as there always is in Brno’s past. An actual pillory, a medieval tool for public torturing of convicts, looms beneath the ground.

The Old Town Hall

From here, you can see Brno’s continuing sense of humor and enjoy a nice panorama of the city from the tower’s roost. One of the Town Hall’s ornamental turrets may appear a little off-balanced when you approach. According to the legend, Anton Pilgram, the building’s architect, was cheated out of money by the city council of Brno, and in retaliation, he changed the design. The opposing view asserts that he was simply too inebriated to make the correct decision. The structure dates to the 1200s and served as a defensive structure for the city during the infamous Swedish siege of 1645. Later, more on that.

Modern Architecture

Early in the 20th century, Brno experienced a design boom that produced some of the most stunning structures outside of the old town, along with Villa Tugendhat. Currently, Brno is home to about 70 functionalist structures. Genuine admirers of architecture can obtain a list and locate them on a walking tour. If you’re ready to put in the effort, you’ll be rewarded with some unforgettable but rarely visited sights, almost all of which still fulfill their original public and residential functions. Ackuv Rodinn Dum, Basova Vila, and Haasova Vila are three cutting-edge mansions in Brno Center that were constructed for the city’s elite in the 1920s and 1930s.

Špilberk Castle

This structure has been in existence for nearly as long as Brno has served as the capital of Moravia. And as you might anticipate, this has resulted in a variety of architectural styles in the building, from Romanesque to baroque. It’s a sizable hilltop castle that has seen a lot of action and served a variety of purposes over the years. Pilberk Castle assisted in fending off the Swedish Army during a siege during the Thirty Years’ War in the 1600s, much like the Town Hall. Given that Brno was a Catholic city at the time, it also served as a prison where protestants were held and tortured. Learn why Pilberk was a bad place to end up if you belonged to the wrong denomination at the local museum.

Capuchin Monastery

The Capuchin Monastery in Kapucnské Square is not a place for the faint of heart, so the ominous vibes keep coming. The ground floor and façade are beautiful and give no hint as to what is below. The baroque-style structure has an elaborate rococo interior with a notable fresco and a maintained library with bookcases filled with old manuscripts that climb to elaborate ceilings. Go downstairs though, and you’ll be confronted by an 18th-century crypt where members of the Capuchin order and other important figures of the time are lying around mummified like they’ve decided to take 200-year naps.

Cathedral of Saint Peter and Paul

The Swedish siege of Brno in 1645 left a lasting mark on the city and somewhat time-warped the clocks at this imposing cathedral. Another odd tale about Brno claims that the Swedes pledged to abandon their ambitions to take the city if they failed to do so by midday on August 15, 1645. The Brno defense, ever resourceful, decided to increase their chances by moving the cathedral’s clocks ahead an hour so that they would ring at 11 instead of 12. The noon bells continue to sound at 11.

Villa Tugendhat

This one is not at all frightening. Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye in Paris and Villa Tugendhat are two examples of modern architecture that are both open for tours every day. It is a UNESCO-listed functionalism masterpiece that Ludwig Mies van der Rohe planned and built between 1928 and 1930. Thanks to its open floor concept and wall-sized rear windows, this structure altered the playing field. The architecture is as significant as the history of Villa Tugendhat. After 1938, a Jewish couple named the Tugendhat’s were compelled to leave Brno. The property was used as a Gestapo station and then as housing for the Soviet troops. Greta Tugendhat didn’t return, and the restoration project didn’t start until 1967.

Brno Dam

At the end of May and the beginning of June, when teams from all over the world compete for the top prizes at the Ignis Brunensis firework competition, the optimum time to go down to Brno’s dam is after sunset. Initially only an exhibition, things started to take off in 2003 when high-tech pyrotechnics businesses began to use the occasion as a platform to showcase their capabilities. The public will benefit greatly from this competitive spirit, as the reservoir’s waters beautifully reflect the increasingly intricate displays. In the summer, people swarm to the reservoir’s forested shoreline during the day to go biking, and boating and engage in other water activities.