About
A significant historical building in the centre of Brno. Today, the Old Town Hall serves mainly cultural purposes, as it houses a gallery, an information centre, and a permanent exhibition on its history. In summer, you can visit its historical halls and climb up the 63-metre tower to enjoy an impressive view of Brno from the top. The courtyard serves as a venue for various concerts, festivals, theatre performances, and film screenings. Enter its arched passage through the portal beneath the legendary Late Gothic turret by sculptor Anton Pilgram. In the passage, you can see two items from other famous Brno legends: a crocodile, also called the Brno dragon, and a wheel. The courtyard beyond, with Renaissance arcades from the end of the 16th century, was built by Italian designers, and later modifications are the result of its Early Baroque renovations. The Old Town Hall served its original purpose until 1935 when the authorities moved to the New Town Hall located at Dominican Square.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
342 reviews
Excellent
151
Very good
138
Average
48
Poor
4
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1
goodguyjas
London, UK1,218 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
Brno has a good mix of old and new in close proximity to each other. Although you never escape the modern parts, the old town cobbled stones and architecture is substantial and provides various places to visit. The old town clock tower, the market square, churches and nearby cathedral all help you imagine those old days and experience history of the region. The town does have a lot of vehicles parked in places that spoil the view at times but the centre is very pedestrianised. Watch out for the trams and food delivery people on scooters. The area felt safe and locals are friendly. Pretty well kept too, considering how busy the place is.
Written June 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,808 contributions
Oct 2019
The Old Town Hall town hall is a building close to the vegetable market, that's now mainly a culture space for for tourist information and exhibitions. There's also a tower, but I didn't go up that.
The exhibitions seem to be mainly aimed at locals, but the staff at the tourist information centre are pretty helpful with a one day itinerary. The entrance to the building has an interesting crooked gothic sculpture.
The exhibitions seem to be mainly aimed at locals, but the staff at the tourist information centre are pretty helpful with a one day itinerary. The entrance to the building has an interesting crooked gothic sculpture.
Written October 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MikeLinda23
Llandudno, UK425 contributions
Oct 2019
Lovely entrance, well worth going to the top of the tower to see the views of this very nice city..plus you see the stuffed crocodile!
Written October 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicola C
Glasgow, UK111 contributions
Aug 2019
The old town hall was a very site with lots of clearly presented information on the way up to the observation deck. The observation deck is very narrow so if you can avoid taking a rucksack I would. There are about 150 steps to get up to the observation deck but it is worth the climb.
Tickets are bought from the tourist office just below the town hall.
Tickets are bought from the tourist office just below the town hall.
Written August 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NCGatorGirl
North Carolina52 contributions
Dec 2018 • Family
We felt that everything about Brno was easier than Prague and the Info Bureau is just one part of that. The building is beautiful and we both liked the "dragon" that hangs in the entryway. We liked to think that is was a Gator welcoming us to the city. Right down the street from one of the Christmas markets and close to some nice cafes.
Written January 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TC c
Monterey, CA186 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
We came here 15 years ago and the croc is still here and part of Brno's history. The facade is worth a look and a picture. Did not go up the tower. Information center is here with very helpful staff.
Written May 22, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TassieTravellers99
Launceston, Australia3,407 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
The old town hall houses a number of small but interesting exhibits. This has a gothic portal and a number of turrets built above it. The middle one was deliberately built leaning over to symbolise the crookedness of the person who had hired the builder, but then would not pay for the work. Below the portal was a replica model of the Brno Dragon that had terrorised the towns' waterways years ago. It was in fact a crocodile but no one had seen a crocodile back then. There was also a wheel symbolising the Legend of the Wheel, where a guy made a bet to chop down a tree, make a wheel from it, and roll it forty-five kilometres to Brno in twelve hours. It was deemed impossible without the assistance of the devil, and although he won the bet he died in poverty.
Each floor inside the tower had various Czech only displays of the tower and Brno. We passed the clock mechanism. There were 179 steps up to the top where we had views in all directions over the city. This gave us a view of the Parnassus fountain nearby which was quite intricate but we were unable to explore it more closely because the town square was under renovation.
Each floor inside the tower had various Czech only displays of the tower and Brno. We passed the clock mechanism. There were 179 steps up to the top where we had views in all directions over the city. This gave us a view of the Parnassus fountain nearby which was quite intricate but we were unable to explore it more closely because the town square was under renovation.
Written August 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angela S
Riga, Latvia115 contributions
Aug 2021
One of the "must-see" places in Brno, full of legends: about an evil crocodile and greedy officials, punished by the architect who built crooked pillars on the town hall.
Written August 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jay L
Minneapolis, MN152 contributions
Aug 2021
The Old Town Hall is home to two of the legendary stories about Brno (the unhappy builder and the dragon) and has a visitors information center inside which has a lot of resources.
Written August 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sjsalter1337
Nanaimo, Canada23 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Beautiful view of city. This town full of students, babies and lots of beer....
Maps and info you need for touring
Maps and info you need for touring
Written April 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hours say that the town hall is open in June until 10pm, but that last admission is at 5:30 pm. When exactly is last entry allowed in the summer?
Written June 19, 2018
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