Travel guide: a perfect one day trip to Brno

If you have only few hours to spend in Brno (or to show the town to your family or friends), go to these beautiful places.

Best-known points of interest

These four places have become the symbols of Brno:

Špilberk Castle (website, map)

A castle built in the 13th century has an interesting exposition in a former prison; by the way, the Italian “Carbonari”, such was Silvio Pellico, suffered right there in the 19th century.

Many cultural events take place at the castle, so check out its official website for fresh news.

Špilberk is surrounded by a nice English landscape park.

St. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral (Czech website, map)

The second landmark of Brno. The first church at this place was founded in the 12th century but the cathedral got its distinctive shape as late as in the end of the 19th century.

You can observe the whole town from one of the towers for a small fee. (Don’t do that if you suffer from acrofobia.)

Old town hall (map)

This building had been the home of the town council until the 20th century and it is still a home of two symbols of the town: “the dragon of Brno” and “the wheel of Brno”. They both are exposed in the gateway and you don’t have pay anything to see them.

Brno Tourist Information Centre is located in the gateway too. They may help you with many possible problems – it is also a good place to buy souvenirs or maps.

During summer months, an old man coins ducats right under the dragon and the wheel, so if you want to have a nice (& cheap!) souvenir from Brno, ask him for a coin!

Villa Tugendhat (website, map)

Functionalist building from 1920s has been a UNESCO World Herritage Site since 2001.

Villa Tugendhat is considered a masterpiece, designed by the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Built between the years 1928-1930 in Brno, in today’s Czech Republic, for Fritz Tugendhat and his wife Greta, the villa soon became an icon of modern architecture. (Wikipedia)

Sadly, it is being repaired right now and no visitors won’t be allowed until 2014.

Famous onyx wall and garden sharing the spacial patterns with the interior are worth of the wait.

Museums and galleries

Art afficianado will appreciate these points of interest:

Moravian gallery (website)

The most important gallery in Brno has five buildings in total: The museum of applied arts at 14 Husova st., Pražák palace at 18 Husova st. and Governor’s Palace at Moravské náměstí sq. Josef Hoffmann Native House is not located in Brno and the the fifth building, a villa of architect Jurkovič, is now being repaired and closed for public.

The Moravian museum (website)

One of the biggest museums in the Czech republic has several expositions. You can learn a lot about natural science in Dietrichstein palace at Zelný trh sq.

The Institute of Ethography takes place in the “House of noble women” at the top of Kobližná st.

Finally, one of my favorite places in Brno is the Anthropos museum, located at the bank of Svratka river. It focuses on the prehistory and it exposes a real-size model of mamooth or a copy of the beautiful and famous Venus of Dolní Věstonice.

Less known attractions

Most guides forget about these wonderful points of interest:

Shanty towns

In the 1920s, many people were so poor they have to live in a tiny houses built in abandoned quarries. As the socioeconomic conditions of the Czech nation have improved, the shanty towns have become quite “hip” places to live in. Check out the fairy tale like Kamenná kolonie.

Little angel showing his butt to the town hall (map)

Church of St. Jacob has a nice sculpture on its southern facade – a small angel, showing his bare butt.

According to a legend, the master builder of the church was upset about the members of the town coucil; however sculptures like this one were quite common in the middle ages.

Observation deck at the top of the House of Lords of Lipá (map)

The top floor of a beautiful middle ages house at Náměstí svobody sq. carries an observation deck. Good place to look over the historical centre of the town for a small fee.

Fountain at Náměstí svobody sq. (map)

Some people think that the fountain constructed in 2006 looks like a big fish tank. I like it anyway, as it refreshes the air during hot months and it is surrounded by verses of the best known poet of Brno, Jan Skácel.

Pub “U Bláhovky” (gallery, map)

There are several pubs with a great beer in Brno, but many consider this one to be the best. It looks like an old-fashioned Bohemian pub and it offers Pilsen so great that you will most likely have to drink it standing on the street.

Alfa Passage (website, map)

A giant functionalist buidling located in the centre offers several reasons to visit it: there are two famous cafés (Švanda and Alfa), a chocolate store and two shops for gourmets.

Capuchin crypt

What you are, we have been. What we are, you are going to be — that is a disturbing but true message writen on the wall of the Capuchin crypt, full of mummified bodies.

Tagged as: Alfa Passage, Anthropos, Church of St. Jacob, Moravian gallery, Moravian museum, Old town hall, shanty towns, sightseeing, Špilberk castle, St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral, Venus of Dolní Věstonice, Villa Tugendhat