A Journey to Brno, the Second Largest City in the Czech Republic: 11 Recommended Tourist Spots!

Brno is the largest city in the Moravia region in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, and the second largest city in the country. Prague is nice, but Brno is just as good a tourist destination! Brno... the name of the city may sound unfamiliar to you, but it is a city closely connected to famous people and places, such as the famous race circuit for MotoGP fans, the botanist Mendel for biology lovers, and Leoš Janacek for classical music lovers.

Now, Brno has many tourist attractions. Let's go sightseeing in Brno, a city that exudes history, culture, and elegance! The tourist attractions are concentrated in the old town, so it's great that you can get around the tourist spots on foot.

1. Freedom Square

Liberty Square, located in the center of Brno's Old Town, can be said to be the base of Brno tourism. Not only is it the starting point of tourism, but Liberty Square itself is also a tourist spot.

The biggest attraction of Liberty Square is the astronomical clock installed in the square. It is made of black granite and is shaped like a giant pistol bullet, so it is very noticeable. And at 11:00 a.m., when the bells of St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral ring, a glass ball is dropped from the astronomical clock. Anyone who manages to pick it up is very lucky! They can take it home as a souvenir. Every day at 11:00 a.m., a large number of people, including tourists, gather around the astronomical clock.

Also, at Christmas, a Christmas market is set up in Liberty Square. If you are visiting at this time, don't miss it.

2. Moravian Museum

The second oldest and largest Moravian Museum in the Czech Republic is one of Brno's most popular tourist attractions. You can see a huge collection of over 6 million items covering a wide range of fields, including history, culture, literature, music, archaeology, and anthropology. One of the highlights is the workroom of the great musician Leoš Janáček, who grew up in Brno, and it is crowded with many tourists.

The Moravian Museum was also established in 1817 by order of Emperor Franz I of Austria, and the interior of the Baroque palace is also wonderful, giving you a sense of history. Don't be put off by the fact that it's a museum, but be sure to visit it when you're sightseeing in Brno.

3. Špilberk Castle

Špilberk Castle is the most important historical site in Brno, designated as a Czech cultural heritage site. It is also a very popular tourist spot, the main attraction for tourists visiting Brno. The castle is full of many spooky legends, but the most famous one is the armored room called "Kasematten" in German, which was used as a prison by the Holy Roman Empire in the 17th century to hold criminals accused of treason. The prison was abolished in the 19th century, and a full restoration was completed at the beginning of this century.

The view overlooking the city from Špilberk Castle, located on a hill west of Brno's Old Town, is wonderful. Špilberk Castle also houses the Brno City Museum.

4. Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul

Located at the southern end of Brno's Old Town, the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul is one of the highlights of sightseeing in Brno. The two sharply pointed towers of the Cathedral are a striking feature of the city of Brno. Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul and Špilberk Castle are two large buildings that can be seen from anywhere in Brno, and are good landmarks to remember when sightseeing.

Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul is famous for the sound of the bell that rings at 11am, announcing the beginning of the day in Brno. Many tourists visit the Cathedral just to hear this sound. You can also climb the two spires. The stairs to the towers are narrow and steep, so be careful not to slip. From the top of the towers, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire beautiful city of Brno!

5. Old Town Hall

One of Brno's unique tourist attractions is the Old Town Hall. What makes it unique is the Gothic stonework turret in the entrance arch. Of the five turrets, one in the middle has a curved tip. It is said that it was made for fun, or that an architect bent it in anger because he was not paid enough.

And just inside the entrance, there is a large crocodile on the ceiling, with a wheel hanging from the side wall. This crocodile is like a mascot character for Brno, and is affectionately known as the "Brno Dragon." A crocodile is a dragon? It is said that this is related to an old fairy tale about Brno.

The inside of the building is decorated with Gothic portraits, which are worth seeing. You can also climb the tower of the Old Town Hall and get a panoramic view of the city.

6. Mendel Museum and Memorial

Mendel's Law... Even if you can't remember what the law was, you must have heard this term in junior high school science class. Some people may get it when you say peas. Yes, Mendel is the famous botanist who discovered the laws of inheritance through pea breeding experiments. While working as a priest at a monastery in Brno, Mendel conducted research on peas in the square in front of the monastery. A corner of the monastery is now the Mendel Memorial and Museum, which is visited by many tourists.

The square of the old monastery is called Mendel Square, and it is exactly where the pea experiments were carried out. When you think about it like that, you can get a real sense of tourism.

7. Villa Tugendhat

Villa Tugendhat, located northeast of Brno's Old Town, is a tourist spot in Brno that is registered as a World Heritage Site. Villa Tugendhat is said to be the origin of modern architecture, and is one of the four most beautiful and important functionalist mansions in the world. It is also a historically important mansion, as it was the place where the signing ceremony was held when Czechoslovakia separated and became independent.

Since it became a World Heritage Site in 2001, Brno's name has become known to people other than those involved in architecture and design, and it has suddenly become a famous tourist destination. The architectural designer of Villa Tugendhat also designed furniture and other items, and two of the famous Tugendhat chairs are placed inside the house. Don't miss it when you're sightseeing!

8. Brno’s Underground Passageways

One of Brno's unique tourist spots is the "Brno Underground." Although it is an underground passage, the brick walls make it look like a cave, giving it quite an atmosphere. There are many small rooms in this passage, and you can visit rooms that were used as wine cellars, food storage areas, and even prisons.

There are several underground passages in Brno, but the most famous is the one in Brno's largest fruit and vegetable square, also known as the green square. There are underground passage tours available from the fruit and vegetable square, so it's worth joining one.

9. Leoš Janáček Memorial

Leoš Janáček is a musician who represents Brno. The Leoš Janáček Memorial Museum was created from an organ school that opened in Brno in 1882. After studying techniques in Prague and Vienna, Leoš Janáček returned to Brno and founded this organ school, which became the basis for the current Janáček Academy of Music.

When you visit the Leoš Janáček Memorial Museum, it is also worth visiting the modest house behind the organ school (memorial museum) where Janáček lived until the end of his life.

Leoš Janáček is a firm favourite among fans of classical music. Take the time to follow the path of this musician that Brno is proud of.

10. Capuchin Square

Capuchin Square, located south of the vegetable market, is the best spot to see the two spires that are the symbol of the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul! The square itself is a small triangle, but the best spot is in front of the Capuchin Monastery facing the square.

It's worth visiting just to see the cathedral spires, but if you've made it all the way to the square, I recommend you also visit the Crypt of the Capuchin Monastery. Of course, it's also worth visiting just to take beautiful photos of Brno's Cathedral from a distance.

11. Coin Minting Cellar

The coin minting cellar, located underground in Dominika Square in front of Brno's New Town Hall, is an archaeological site that was discovered by chance when archaeologists were excavating. Dominika Square was originally a fish market and is now mainly used as a parking lot. When it was discovered, no one would have imagined that the coin minting cellar would be so large. It has become an

old and new tourist spot in Brno. You can learn about the history of coin minting and make commemorative coins (grosz silver coins). It's also fun to make your own original coin as a souvenir of your visit to Brno.

◎Summary

We have introduced you to the tourist spots in Brno. Brno is located in the southeast of the Czech Republic, about 180km away from the capital, Prague, in a straight line. With buildings that exude history and culture and beautiful streetscapes, Brno is a city that is recommended for sightseeing in the Czech Republic, as it is picturesque wherever you look.