This imposing 13th-century castle first served as a fortress and then as a prison for common criminals and opponents of the Hapsburg monarchy.

This neo-Gothic cathedral is famous for the bells that always ring noon at 11 A.M., a tradition that dates back to a 1645 siege by the Swedes.

This modernist landmark is an outstanding example of the international architectural style that flourished in 1920s Europe.

After Paris, Brno has the second-largest ossuary in Europe. The number of people buried here is estimated to exceed 50,000. There was a churchyard at the Church of St James as early as the beginning of the 13th century. The churchyard capacity quickly became insufficient for the needs of the growing city, and a special system of burial had to be adopted in which graves were opened 10 to 12 years after burial and the remnants were removed to make room for another body in the grave. The remnants from the original graves were moved to special underground areas, called ossuaries. These also quickly filled up due to frequent plague and cholera epidemics. The reforms introduced by Joseph II in 1784 resulted in churchyards being closed down for hygienic reasons. The remnants from the graves were moved into a crypt, the churchyard wall was torn down, the area around the church was paved with the former headstones, and the ossuary was gradually forgotten.

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.

Just 212 steps down to enter the labyrinth’s winding passages The passageways in the Labyrinth under the Vegetable Market lead to unique and mysterious places, including medieval cellars hidden six to eight metres below ground. Visitors learn how food, wine, and beer were once stored and how this underground space used to be lit, and also see a collection of archaeological findings. The tour also visits an alchemist’s laboratory and recalls the doctors, pharmacists, and physicists who lived in Brno and made the city famous throughout Europe. An old wine cellar and a period tavern are reminders of the local tradition of winemaking. Replicas of a pillory and a cage of fools, both of which were located at the town marketplace in the 17th century, evoke the darker side of life a few centuries ago. The tour also introduces some of the punishments that awaited dishonest craftsmen, traders, and merchants.