Brno is the second-largest city in the Czech Republic with a charming mix of history, modern attractions, and cultural gems.
Here are 10 things to see and do within the city limits of Brno.
1. Explore Špilberk Castle
This fortress and former prison has stunning views of the city and a hidden underground.
Address: Špilberk 210/1
Official site: www.spilberk.cz/en/
2. Visit the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul
Dominating the skyline of Brno is the Gothic masterpiece of the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul (Rímskokatolická farnost u katedrály sv. Petra a Pavla v Brne). Try to time your visit to coincide with the ringing of the midday bells, which sound at 11 am! Legend has it that the early ringing of the bells successfully tricked attacking Swedes into ending their siege as they decided that if they had made no progress by midday they would give up.
Address: Petrov 9
3. Visit the Astronomical C(l)ock
A visit to the main square is a must, so don’t miss the astronomical clock. Like something out of a raunchy remake of 2001, the phallic clock has many alternative monikers including ‘the astronomical c(l)ock’. Each day at 11 am the clock releases a special collectible marble, also in reference to the Swedish siege, which comes out of a random opening, of which there are a few, if you want to stick your hand in (ooh-er).
Address: Namesti Svobody
4. Find the hidden phallus
Not to suggest that Brno is obsessed with willies but there is another cheeky statue in the Old Town, which we couldn’t work out at first so had to come back for a second look, but once you’ve seen it from this angle you can’t unsee it. Deliberate or accidental, you decide.
5. Visit Villa Tugendhat
This modernist villa designed by Mies van der Rohe is an architectural marvel and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. English language guided tours are available but book in advance for a ticket.
Address: Cernopolní 45
Book tickets in advance for guided tours.
6. Visit the water tanks under Žluty Kopec
Embrace your inner James Bond villan here. The water tanks seem like somewhere a Bond villain would reside, visit and find out all about all three of these underground cathedrals, which includes a light show in one of them that takes place on the hour.
Address: Tvrdého 15
Book tickets for your visit here
7. Stay overnight in a nuclear bunker
Discover what life would be like in a post-apocalyptic world by spending the night in an underground nuclear bunker. If you can make it to morning then breakfast is included in the price of your stay, as is a visit to the museum. Originally an air-raid shelter built during World War II, it became a wine store and then developed into a bunker to survive a nuclear attack during the Cold War.
Address: Husova
Click here to find out more from their website.
8. Say hello to the Brno dragon
You’ll find the Brno dragon hanging out at the old town hall. OK, it looks suspiciously like a crocodile but we’re not zoologists nor dragon experts. It is said that the ‘Dragon’ was savaging the citizens until a visiting butcher used sheep and a large amount of caustic lime. The lime was placed in the hide and sewn up to look like a juicy meal for the dragon which was munched and killed the ‘dragon’.
Address:Radnická 8
9. Eat at the oldest cafe in Brno
Zemanova kavárna a cukrárna has been serving the citizens coffee and cake since 1937. Inside you will find a glorious old school cafe that is extremely popular with those over fifty. You can sit in or take away.
Address: Josefská 4
10.Visit Europe’s second largest ossuary
Underneath Jakubske namesti or “St. Jacob’s Square” are around 50,000 skeletons. The bones, thought to be from the 1600 and 1700s, are believed to have been dug up from an old cemetery to make space for more burials. The Brno ossuary is second only to the Catacombs in Paris in amount of bones.
Address: Jakubske namesti
Looking for things to do in Prague? Click here for a look at the works of David Cerny.
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