Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic (after Prague), located in the historical region of Moravia. This is one of the most beautiful and original cities in Central Europe, with an interesting history, with unique architectural monuments and its own traditions, At the same time, there are fewer tourists here than in Prague, which allows you to safely see the sights in Brno, and they are really very interesting here.
Given that Brno is not too big, even in one day you can see a lot here. For independent tourists who want to see the sights of Brno, we decided to make a list of the most interesting places in this city.
St. Peter and Paul Cathedral
Perhaps the first place in the list of sights of Brno, marked on the city map, belongs to the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. After all, it is with this religious building that one ancient history is connected, thanks to which the inhabitants of Brno meet noon at exactly 11:00.
According to legend, in 1645 Brno withstood the Swedish siege for a long time. Once, the commanders of the troops concluded an agreement that the Swedes would retreat if they could not capture the city before noon. During the decisive assault, the Swedes did not realize that the bell ringer had rung the bells an hour earlier. Swedish troops retreated, and the tradition of ringing the bell 12 times at 11 am is still preserved in Brno.
Peter and Paul Cathedral, built in the XIII century-a luxurious light building, rising to the sky slender spires of towers which can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.
The walls inside the cathedral are decorated with rich paintings and mosaics, very beautiful stained glass windows. Here is a unique attraction-the statue “Virgin and Child”, created in the XIV century.
But the most interesting thing that awaits tourists here is the opportunity to climb the tower. The observation deck is a small balcony that can accommodate only 2-3 people, although it is quite possible to look at Brno and take photos of its attractions from a height.
Practical information
The cathedral is open at this time of day:
- Monday-Saturday – from 8: 15 to 18: 30;
- Sunday-from 7: 00 to 18: 30.
The only time when visitors can use the services of a tour guide is Sunday from 12:00.
Admission is free. But since the temple is active, during the service, tourists are forbidden to go beyond the fence. To climb the tower and enjoy panoramic views of Brno, you need to pay:
- adult ticket – 40 CZK;
- for children and students – 30 CZK;
- family ticket – 80 CZK.
Access to the tower is open at this time:
- May-September: Monday-Saturday from 10: 00 to 18: 00, and Sunday from 12: 00 to 18: 30;
- October-April: Monday-Saturday from 11: 00 to 17: 00, and Sunday from 12: 00 to 17: 00.
Peter and Paul Cathedral address: Petrov 268/9, Brno 602 00, Czech Republic.
Freedom Square
If you look at the map of Brno with attractions in Russian, it will become clear that Namesti Svobody is the largest city square. Throughout the entire existence of Brno, it was a place where urban life was raging. And now Freedom Square remains the heart of the city, where both locals and visitors like to walk.
Numerous historical buildings are still preserved here. A spectacular but controversial local landmark deserves mention – the house “At the Four Caryatids”, better known among the townspeople as the house”At the Four Blockheads”. On the side of the facade of the building there are 4 statues in human growth-they should be majestic – but they do not make such an impression at all. The faces of the sculptures have an expression that usually causes laughter – this is why the townspeople called them “mamlas” (“blockheads”). As in many Czech cities, Brno has a Plague Column: a statue of the Virgin Mary is placed on top of the pillar, and statues of saints are placed at its foot.
A rather strange landmark of the city of Brno in the Czech Republic is located in the eastern part of the central square. We are talking about the astronomical clock (Orloy), created in 3 years and 12,000,000 crowns of black marble, and installed here in 2010. The watch is a sculpture in the form of a sleeve 6 meters high with four cylindrical holes. You will not be able to see the time on this watch, as it does not show it, but through one of its holes they “shoot” glass balls every day at the iconic time for Brno: 11 am. It is considered a good omen to catch such a bullet, so by 11:00 on the square formed a real pandemonium.
Szpilberk Castle
In the list of the most ancient sights of Brno – Szpilberk Castle, standing on top of the hill of the same name. Spilberk Castle was built in the 13th century as a fortified royal residence and managed to withstand few sieges, and by the end of the 18th century it had become a gloomy dungeon for the enemies of the monarchy, known in Europe as the”Prison of the Peoples”.
In 1962, Szpilberk Castle was granted the status of a national monument of the Czech Republic.
There are 3 main locations on the territory of Szpilberk: a tower with an observation deck, casemates and the Brno City Museum.
The museum occupies the western wing, where you can view expositions and exhibitions on the history of the fortress and the city, as well as get acquainted with the fine arts and architecture of Brno. Thanks to the scale and value of its collections, the Brno City Museum is recognized as one of the most outstanding in the Czech Republic.
In the casemates there are rooms for torture, many cells for prisoners (stone “bags” and cages). It is interesting to see the kitchen in which food was prepared for prisoners – all the utensils were preserved there.
From the height of the observation tower, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Brno, the picturesque castle Park radiating from the ancient walls. The park is well maintained, with fountains, ponds and waterfalls, comfortable benches and even a free toilet.
In summer, concerts, theater performances, festivals, and fencing competitions are organized in the courtyard of Spilberk Castle. Schedules of such cultural events can be viewed in advance on the city’s website, and you can plan a trip to Brno so that you can see both the sights and the holiday in one day.Practical information
From October until the last days of April, Spielberk Castle is open from 09: 00 to 17: 00 on all days of the week, except Mondays. During the warmer months, the castle welcomes visitors every day at this time.:
- May-June: from 09: 00 to 17: 00;
- July-September: from 09: 00 to 18: 00.
In Spilberk Castle, you can selectively visit any location, and if you want to see everything, you need to buy a combined ticket with a discount. Entrance fee in CZK:
| casemates | Southwest Bastion | observation tower | Combined ticket | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| adult | 90 | 100 | 50 | 150 |
| preferential rate | 50 | 60 | 30 | 90 |
Before entering the casemates, you can take a guide in Russian.
Ticket prices, as well as opening hours, can be found on the official website of the attraction: www.spilberk.cz/?pg=oteviraci-doba
Spilberk Fortress address: Spilberk 210/1, Brno 60224, Czech Republic.
Old Town Hall
Not far from Freedom Square stands the Old Town Hall – a landmark of Brno (Czech Republic), which has been the seat of the city government since the XIII century.
The town hall is accessed by an archway with a stuffed crocodile suspended from the ceiling and a wheel set against the wall. Both the scarecrow and the wheel are mascots of Brno, which appeared here in the XVII century.
In 1935, the authorities occupied another building, and the Old Town Hall became a venue for concerts, exhibitions, and performances. It also has a tourist information center, where you can get very useful free brochures, for example, “What to do in Brno on Monday”, “Sights of Brno: photos with descriptions”, “Beer in Brno”.
The 63-meter-high tower of the Old Town Hall has an observation deck from which you can view the spectacular panorama of Brno. Entrance fee, price in CZK:
- for adults – 70;
- for children aged 6-15 years, students and pensioners – 40;
- family ticket – 150;
- the resolution for shooting with a video camera is 40.
The tower is open daily from the beginning of June to the end of September from 10: 00 to 22: 00.
Address of the attraction: Radnicka 8, Brno 602 0, Czech Republic.
St. Jakub’s Church
This structure, which has remained virtually unchanged in appearance since its construction (late 16th century), is the most valuable late Gothic landmark in the Czech Republic.
An important element of the church of St. Jakuba is the tower, which rises up to 92 meters. It marked the completion of all construction. And on the south window of the tower there is a small figure of a peasant showing his naked ass in the direction of the Old Town Hall. They say that this is how one of the builders, A. Pilgram, showed his attitude to the city authorities, who did not pay him extra for his work. But it turned out that the peasant was not alone! In the 19th century, restoration work was carried out, and when they looked at the scandalous decor from above, they realized: these are figures of a man and a woman. Looking at the blissful face of the female figure, it immediately becomes clear what they are doing.
And inside the church of St. Jakuba there is an atmosphere of reverence and grandeur: tall Gothic columns, oblong stained glass windows around the entire perimeter of the structure, a pulpit with images of scenes from the Bible.
St. Jakub’s Church is in operation. It is open daily, with services starting:
- Monday-Saturday: 8: 00 and 19: 00;
- on Sunday: 8:00, 9:30, 11:00, 19:00.
Admission is free, everyone can go to see the interior decoration. But during memorial prayers, weddings and baptisms, outsiders are not allowed.
Bone storage facility
In 2001, under the Church of St. Jakub, along the entire width of the nave (25 m), a large – scale bone storage was discovered-the second largest in Europe (after Paris). The number of people buried exceeds 50,000!
For almost 500 years, the site of today’s Jacob’s Square was the largest cemetery in Brno, practically surrounding the church. But there were still not enough places for burials in the city, so the graves were located in layers one above the other: after 10-12 years, the remains from the old burial were lifted, making room for a new one. And the raised bones were put in a bonesetter.
Groups of up to 20 people are allowed to go on an excursion to Kostnitsa every day, except Monday. Opening hours are from 9:30 to 18:00. The ticket costs 140 CZK.
St. Jakub’s Church and Kostnica are located in the city center, at Jakubske namesti 2, Brno 602 00, Czech Republic.
Tugendhat Villa
In 1930, the great architect Mies van der Rohe built a villa for the rich Tugendgat family, which was quite unusual for that time. Villa Tugendhat is the first residential building in the world created using steel load-bearing structures. It is recognized as a standard of functional design and is included in the list of objects protected by UNESCO.
The villa, considered a masterpiece of modernism, is located among chic but traditional mansions, and against their background it looks quite modest. All its splendor is in the internal layout and arrangement. The large-scale room of 237 m2 does not have a clear division into zones, and even through the photo of this attraction in Brno (Czech Republic), a special spirit of free planning is conveyed. Rare wood, marble and other natural stones are used for interior decoration. Especially impressive is the 3-meter-high onyx wall, which seems to come to life and begins to “play” in the rays of the setting sun.
The interest in this attraction is so huge that you need to take care of booking a sightseeing tour very much in advance (3-4 months in advance).
Practical information
From March to the end of December, Villa Tugendhat is open all days of the week, except Mondays, from 10: 00 to 18: 00. In January and February, from 9:00 to 17:00 on Wednesday-Sunday, and Monday and Tuesday-weekends.
Different types of tours are available for visitors:
- BASIC – main living area, kitchen, garden (duration 1 hour).
- Extended tour – living area, large reception hall, kitchen, technical rooms, garden (lasts 90 minutes).
- ZAHRADA-a guided garden tour is only possible if the weather is good.
Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office, but it is best to do it in advance, via the official website: http://www.tugendhat.eu/.Ticket price in CZK:
| BASIC | Extended tour | ZAHRADA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| full | 300 | 350 | 50 |
| for children from 6 years of age, students up to 26 years of age, for pensioners after 60 years of age, | 180 | 210 | 50 |
| family (2 adults and 1-2 children under 15 years old) | 690 | 802 | — |
| for children from 2 to 6 years old | 20 | 20 | 20 |
You can only take photos indoors (without a flash or tripod) if you have a photo ticket for 300 CZK purchased at the ticket office.
Address of the attraction: Cernopolni 45, Brno 613 00, Czech Republic.
Technical Museum of Brno
The Technical Museum of Brno exhibits are located on 4 floors of a modern building and in an open area in front of it. You can see a lot of interesting things: a dental office of the early twentieth century and workshops of artisans of various eras with a completely recreated environment, lamp electronic computers and the first computers, retro cars, planes and trams of different times, railway cars and entire locomotives, steam and water engines.
There are no audio guides in Russian in the Technical Museum, and all descriptions are made only in Czech. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth visiting there, and not only for those who are fond of technology.
A unique attraction of the technical museum is the experimentarium, where visitors have the opportunity to conduct all kinds of experiments.Practical information
The museum operates on this schedule throughout the year:
- Monday is a day off;
- Tuesday-Friday – from 09: 00 to 17: 00;
- Saturday and Sunday – from 10: 00 to 18: 00.
Entrance fee to the Technical Museum with access to all expositions (including the Panorama exhibition):
- for adults – 130 CZK;
- on benefits (for children over 6 years of age and pensioners over 60 years of age) – 70 CZK;
- family ticket (2 adults and 1-3 children aged 6-15 years) – 320 CZK;
- children under 6 years old are admitted free of charge.
If you wish, you can view only one historical stereo exhibition “Panorama”. A full entrance ticket costs 30 CZK, with a discount of 15 CZK.
The Technical Museum is located outside the historical center of the city, in its northern part. Address: Purkynova 2950/105, Brno 612 00-Královo Pole, Czech Republic.
VIDA Science Center!
VIDA Science Amusement Park! – here’s what to see in Brno will be interesting for both adults and children!
On the territory of the city exhibition center, on an area of 5,000 m2, there are more than 170 interactive exhibits. The permanent exhibition is divided into 5 thematic groups: “Planet”, “Civilization”, “Man”, “Microcosm” and “Science Center for Children” aged 2 to 6 years.
The accompanying program includes excursions and a variety of scientific experiments for schoolchildren.Practical information
VIDA Science and Entertainment Park! waiting for guests at this time:
- Monday-Friday – from 9: 00 to 18: 00;
- Saturday and Sunday – from 10: 00 to 18: 00.
Children under 3 years old are allowed in VIDA Park! free of charge, other visitors need to pay the following amount for entering the territory of the attraction:
- full ticket – 230 CZK;
- ticket for children from 3 to 15 years old, students up to 26 years old, seniors over 65 years old – 130 CZK;
- family ticket (1 adult and 2-3 children under 15) – 430 CZK;
- family ticket (2 adults and 2-3 children under 15) – 570 CZK;
- for all visitors on Monday-Friday from 16:00 to 18:00, an afternoon ticket is valid for 90 CZK.
VIDA Park! with scientific attractions, it is located in the former pavilion D of the Brno Exhibition Center. Exact address of the attraction: Krizkovskeho 554/12, Brno 603 00, Czech Republic.
Conclusion
Of course, you won’t be able to see all the cities of the Czech Republic in one trip. But one day to see the sights in Brno may well be enough. The main thing is to organize everything correctly. We hope that this is exactly what our article will help with.
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