BRNO
LEADING CITY OF EXPERIMENTAL ARCHITECTURE
Attractions
Read
Has a cellar which contains the mummified remains of around 150 noblemen from the 18th century [6].
The dry, well-ventilated basement allowed the phenomenon to occur (i.e. dead bodies into mummies) [6].
A 14th century cathedral that is situated on a hill (Petrov Hill) [6].
Prior to the cathedral, it was a temple dedicated to the roman god of Venus [6].
Since its original completion, it has been reconstructed many times [6].
The interior of the church contains a decorative 11 metre altar, which has illustrative figures of St Peter and Paul [6].
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The tower of the cathedral can be accessed for stunning views of the city [6].
The cathedral’s bells ring daily at 11am (rather than the traditional noon) [6].
The reason for this time, is through a legend’s story [6].
In 1645, the Swedish laid siege to Brno [6].
The Swedish Commander, General Tortenson, had been frustrated by Brno’s defenses for more than a week, thus he decided to do a ‘final’ attack [6].
The caveat is that his troops must break through their defences by noon, or that the siege would be over [6].
The swedes were making an advance, but the cathedral’s tower keeper had the idea to ring the bell one hour before noon (i.e. 11am) [6].
Thus, the swedes withdrew and the city was saved [6].
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A rigid 15th century church that contains a baroque podium with reliefs of Christ [6].
The biggest drawcard is a small stone figure called the ‘shameless’, which is located above the 1st floor window near the clock tower [6].
The figure is of a man who bares his buttocks towards the cathedral [6].
It is believed that the figure was a disgruntled stonemason, who will partake shots to his rivals working on the cathedral on petrov hill [6].
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Below the church is a burial ground of the collected bones and remains of the 50,000 people who died from the war [6].
[/expand]
Was built in the early 13th century, and contains a ‘plague’ column that has stood since 1680 [6].
Today, it’s the city central hub [6].
The museum holds a collection of 6 million items, which is the second largest in the country [6].
The museum also contains a courtyard (bishop’s court), which has the largest freshwater aquarium in the country and has various Moravian wildlife [6].
At the core of the old town is the cabbage market, which contains fruits and vegetables [6].
The square also contains a large fountain (Parnas Fountain), which illustrates Hercules detaining the 3 headed Cerberus (the watch dog of the underworld); 3 female figures that represent the ancient empires of Babylon (crown), Persia (cornucopia), and Greece (quiver of arrows); and lastly a woman that stands triumphally on the top which symbolises Europe [6].
Under the square, six-to-eight meters below, is a labyrinth that contains an extensive underground tunnel system [6].
In recent years, the tunnels have been opened to the general public, which takes 40 minutes to explore [6].
[expand title=””]
The underground was used to store goods and for hiding during the wars [6].
[/expand]
At the core of the old town is the cabbage market, which contains fruits and vegetables [6].
The square also contains a large fountain (Parnas Fountain), which illustrates Hercules detaining the 3 headed Cerberus (the watch dog of the underworld); 3 female figures that represent the ancient empires of Babylon (crown), Persia (cornucopia), and Greece (quiver of arrows); and lastly a woman that stands triumphally on the top which symbolises Europe [6].
Under the square, six-to-eight meters below, is a labyrinth that contains an extensive underground tunnel system [6].
In recent years, the tunnels have been opened to the general public, which takes 40 minutes to explore [6].
[expand title=””]
The underground was used to store goods and for hiding during the wars [6].
[/expand]
A castle that overlooks the town on a hill [6].
It’s regarded as the most important landmark in Brno [6].
The history of the castle commenced in the 13th century [6].
At the time, it was a fortress to the Moravian Margraves [6].
[expand title=””]
In the 18th and 19th centuries, it served as a prison under the Habsburgs [6].
Today, it’s the city’s museum, which contains several temporary and permanent exhibitions [6].
[/expand]
In the 20th century, Brno had a reputation as the centre for modern architecture [6].
The most notable example is the Vila Tugendhat, which was designed by Mies Van Der Rohe in 1930 [6].
Entry is only accessible by a guided tour [6].
Trips
Read
The town was the leading centre of Jewish culture for many centuries prior to WWII, now it’s known for its impressive renaissance buildings [6].
The main attraction is the Mikulov Chateau, which was the seat of the Dietrichstein Family from 1575 to 1945 [6].
The castle played a significant role in the 19th century, as it hosted various rulers from different empires; this included French Emperor Napoleon, Russian Tsar Alexander, and Prussia’s King Fredrick [6].
In February 1945, much of the chateau was destroyed by German forces [6].
[expand title=””]
However, its elegant interiors have been painstakingly reconstructed [6].
The castle is only accessible by a guided tour [6].
Another notable attraction is the Dietrichstein Burial Vault [6].
This is the family burial place which occupies the former St Anne’s Church [6].
The church itself, has a remarkable baroque façade which dates from the 18th century [6].
The tomb comprises of 45 family members which span from 1617 to 1852 [6].
A worthwhile climb is to venture up to ‘Holy Hill’, which peaks at 363 metres [6].
The hill comprises of the church of St Sebastian [6].
[/expand]
Located north to Brno is a landscape filled with canyons and 400 caves [6].
The scenery is very beautiful with woods and hills [6].
The 2 main caves are ‘Punkva’ and ‘Katerinska’ [6].
Punkva cave has a 1km walkthrough and a 140m deep sinkhole [6].
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Katerinska cave has 2 massive chambers [6].
[/expand]
A UNESCO protected town which contains the country’s most beautiful and best-preserved historical town squares.
The square comprises of renaissance and baroque houses that surrounds the plaza.
These houses, which were built in the 16th century, are decorated with brightly yellow, pink, and green facades [6].
The most iconic include number 15, 48, and 61 [6].
[expand title=””]
The square has a column in the middle, the ‘Marian Column’, which was built in 1717 [6].
The other attraction is the Telc Chateau, which is positioned on the northern end of the Telc Peninsula [6].
The castle was rebuilt from the original gothic architecture in the 16th century, and remains in fine condition to this day with its well catered lawns and interiors [6].
The castle is only accessible by a guided tour [6].
[/expand]
Two UNESCO villages that are 10km apart (connected by regular buses) [6].
Both villages are popular weekend destinations for the Czechs [6].
The village of Lednice has a huge neo-gothic chateau, which was owned by the Liechtenstein family from 1582 to 1945 [6].
The complex comprises of extensive gardens, an exotic plant greenhouse, lakes with pleasure boats, and splendid interior design [6].
[expand title=””]
The entry is only by a guided tour [6].
The village of Valtice also has a chateau, which is a 12th century castle, one of the country’s finest baroque structures [6].
Again, the entry is only by a guided tour [6].
[/expand]
The village is regarded as one of the beloved trips of Southern Moravia [6].
People come here for the wine, the bustling main squares, and the town’s alleys [6].
In September, the city celebrates its annual wine festival, which provides an amazing atmosphere [6].
The main attractions comprise of the underground, the castle, and the town’s church and hall [6].
[expand title=””]
The underground is a labyrinth of tunnels below the old town [6].
It’s one of the most extensive in central Europe at 27km [6].
The attraction has two type of tours: the classic and the adrenaline [6].
The classic is catered towards families, as it features fairy-tale characters [6].
The adrenaline is catered towards adults, as it involves climbing and crawling through the tunnel system [6].
The castle was on a fortress site that had stood here since the 11th century [6].
The castle was used as a residence for the Moravian nobles, a garrison, and even a brewery [6].
In 1335, King John of Luxembourg (father of Charles IV) held a wedding ceremony for his daughter Anne here [6].
The church ‘Rotunda of our lady and St Catherine’ is one of the republic’s oldest Romanesque structures, which was built in the 11th century [6].
It contains beautiful 12th century murals that illustrate the life of Christ [6].
The town’s hall has an elegant 66m tower, which is one the best examples of gothic infrastructure [6].
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GUIDE
INFORMATION
A high student population [6].
Has a lively café and club scene that rivals Prague [6].
Was the leading city of experimental architecture in the early 20th century [6].
ATTRACTIONS
Has a cellar which contains the mummified remains of around 150 noblemen from the 18th century [6].
The dry, well-ventilated basement allowed the phenomenon to occur (i.e. dead bodies into mummies) [6].
A 14th century cathedral that is situated on a hill (Petrov Hill) [6].
Prior to the cathedral, it was a temple dedicated to the roman god of Venus [6].
Since its original completion, it has been reconstructed many times [6].
The interior of the church contains a decorative 11 metre altar, which has illustrative figures of St Peter and Paul [6].
[expand title=””]
The tower of the cathedral can be accessed for stunning views of the city [6].
The cathedral’s bells ring daily at 11am (rather than the traditional noon) [6].
The reason for this time, is through a legend’s story [6].
In 1645, the Swedish laid siege to Brno [6].
The Swedish Commander, General Tortenson, had been frustrated by Brno’s defenses for more than a week, thus he decided to do a ‘final’ attack [6].
The caveat is that his troops must break through their defences by noon, or that the siege would be over [6].
The swedes were making an advance, but the cathedral’s tower keeper had the idea to ring the bell one hour before noon (i.e. 11am) [6].
Thus, the swedes withdrew and the city was saved [6].
[/expand]
A rigid 15th century church that contains a baroque podium with reliefs of Christ [6].
The biggest drawcard is a small stone figure called the ‘shameless’, which is located above the 1st floor window near the clock tower [6].
The figure is of a man who bares his buttocks towards the cathedral [6].
It is believed that the figure was a disgruntled stonemason, who will partake shots to his rivals working on the cathedral on petrov hill [6].
[expand title=””]
Below the church is a burial ground of the collected bones and remains of the 50,000 people who died from the war [6].
[/expand]
Was built in the early 13th century, and contains a ‘plague’ column that has stood since 1680 [6].
Today, it’s the city central hub [6].
The museum holds a collection of 6 million items, which is the second largest in the country [6].
The museum also contains a courtyard (bishop’s court), which has the largest freshwater aquarium in the country and has various Moravian wildlife [6].
At the core of the old town is the cabbage market, which contains fruits and vegetables [6].
The square also contains a large fountain (Parnas Fountain), which illustrates Hercules detaining the 3 headed Cerberus (the watch dog of the underworld); 3 female figures that represent the ancient empires of Babylon (crown), Persia (cornucopia), and Greece (quiver of arrows); and lastly a woman that stands triumphally on the top which symbolises Europe [6].
Under the square, six-to-eight meters below, is a labyrinth that contains an extensive underground tunnel system [6].
In recent years, the tunnels have been opened to the general public, which takes 40 minutes to explore [6].
[expand title=””]
The underground was used to store goods and for hiding during the wars [6].
[/expand]
At the core of the old town is the cabbage market, which contains fruits and vegetables [6].
The square also contains a large fountain (Parnas Fountain), which illustrates Hercules detaining the 3 headed Cerberus (the watch dog of the underworld); 3 female figures that represent the ancient empires of Babylon (crown), Persia (cornucopia), and Greece (quiver of arrows); and lastly a woman that stands triumphally on the top which symbolises Europe [6].
Under the square, six-to-eight meters below, is a labyrinth that contains an extensive underground tunnel system [6].
In recent years, the tunnels have been opened to the general public, which takes 40 minutes to explore [6].
[expand title=””]
The underground was used to store goods and for hiding during the wars [6].
[/expand]
A castle that overlooks the town on a hill [6].
It’s regarded as the most important landmark in Brno [6].
The history of the castle commenced in the 13th century [6].
At the time, it was a fortress to the Moravian Margraves [6].
[expand title=””]
In the 18th and 19th centuries, it served as a prison under the Habsburgs [6].
Today, it’s the city’s museum, which contains several temporary and permanent exhibitions [6].
[/expand]
In the 20th century, Brno had a reputation as the centre for modern architecture [6].
The most notable example is the Vila Tugendhat, which was designed by Mies Van Der Rohe in 1930 [6].
Entry is only accessible by a guided tour [6].
TRIPS
The town was the leading centre of Jewish culture for many centuries prior to WWII, now it’s known for its impressive renaissance buildings [6].
The main attraction is the Mikulov Chateau, which was the seat of the Dietrichstein Family from 1575 to 1945 [6].
The castle played a significant role in the 19th century, as it hosted various rulers from different empires; this included French Emperor Napoleon, Russian Tsar Alexander, and Prussia’s King Fredrick [6].
In February 1945, much of the chateau was destroyed by German forces [6].
[expand title=””]
However, its elegant interiors have been painstakingly reconstructed [6].
The castle is only accessible by a guided tour [6].
Another notable attraction is the Dietrichstein Burial Vault [6].
This is the family burial place which occupies the former St Anne’s Church [6].
The church itself, has a remarkable baroque façade which dates from the 18th century [6].
The tomb comprises of 45 family members which span from 1617 to 1852 [6].
A worthwhile climb is to venture up to ‘Holy Hill’, which peaks at 363 metres [6].
The hill comprises of the church of St Sebastian [6].
[/expand]
Located north to Brno is a landscape filled with canyons and 400 caves [6].
The scenery is very beautiful with woods and hills [6].
The 2 main caves are ‘Punkva’ and ‘Katerinska’ [6].
Punkva cave has a 1km walkthrough and a 140m deep sinkhole [6].
[expand title=””]
Katerinska cave has 2 massive chambers [6].
[/expand]
A UNESCO protected town which contains the country’s most beautiful and best-preserved historical town squares.
The square comprises of renaissance and baroque houses that surrounds the plaza.
These houses, which were built in the 16th century, are decorated with brightly yellow, pink, and green facades [6].
The most iconic include number 15, 48, and 61 [6].
[expand title=””]
The square has a column in the middle, the ‘Marian Column’, which was built in 1717 [6].
The other attraction is the Telc Chateau, which is positioned on the northern end of the Telc Peninsula [6].
The castle was rebuilt from the original gothic architecture in the 16th century, and remains in fine condition to this day with its well catered lawns and interiors [6].
The castle is only accessible by a guided tour [6].
[/expand]
Two UNESCO villages that are 10km apart (connected by regular buses) [6].
Both villages are popular weekend destinations for the Czechs [6].
The village of Lednice has a huge neo-gothic chateau, which was owned by the Liechtenstein family from 1582 to 1945 [6].
The complex comprises of extensive gardens, an exotic plant greenhouse, lakes with pleasure boats, and splendid interior design [6].
[expand title=””]
The entry is only by a guided tour [6].
The village of Valtice also has a chateau, which is a 12th century castle, one of the country’s finest baroque structures [6].
Again, the entry is only by a guided tour [6].
[/expand]
The village is regarded as one of the beloved trips of Southern Moravia [6].
People come here for the wine, the bustling main squares, and the town’s alleys [6].
In September, the city celebrates its annual wine festival, which provides an amazing atmosphere [6].
The main attractions comprise of the underground, the castle, and the town’s church and hall [6].
[expand title=””]
The underground is a labyrinth of tunnels below the old town [6].
It’s one of the most extensive in central Europe at 27km [6].
The attraction has two type of tours: the classic and the adrenaline [6].
The classic is catered towards families, as it features fairy-tale characters [6].
The adrenaline is catered towards adults, as it involves climbing and crawling through the tunnel system [6].
The castle was on a fortress site that had stood here since the 11th century [6].
The castle was used as a residence for the Moravian nobles, a garrison, and even a brewery [6].
In 1335, King John of Luxembourg (father of Charles IV) held a wedding ceremony for his daughter Anne here [6].
The church ‘Rotunda of our lady and St Catherine’ is one of the republic’s oldest Romanesque structures, which was built in the 11th century [6].
It contains beautiful 12th century murals that illustrate the life of Christ [6].
The town’s hall has an elegant 66m tower, which is one the best examples of gothic infrastructure [6].
[/expand]
Brno Experience
Brno is the country’s second biggest city and is the hub of southern Czech. In my experience, the city has a neat and elegant appearance, yet I didn’t find that to be its star power. What makes the city special is its location, the city has many Moravian day trips that are all within a 1-hour radius. These picturesque villages will keep you occupied for many days. Although I didn’t have the time to see these sights as I was only in the city for 1 night, I do recommend visiting them based on my research. The city itself, has a few esoteric attractions that will spark your interest. These vary from folktales, to mummified tombs, and to a stunning hilltop castle. Overall, Brno provides a different experience to the capital. Although much smaller, it does possess a lively atmosphere and a charm to keep you satisfied.
