Things to do in  Brno

Lednice Chateau is an English Neo-Gothic style stately home that’s part of the larger Lednice-Valtice Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was owned by the Liechtenstein family between 1582 and 1945. The chateau building is surrounded by a large park containing a Venetian fountain, Roman aqueduct, Chinese Pavilion, and more.

Built during the Nazi occupation as an air-raid shelter from US and Soviet bombardment of the Czech city, then converted into a Cold War nuclear shelter for the elite,10-Z was the most highly classified shelter in Brno. Up to 500 people could live for three days in the bunker, which now serves as a tourist attraction and cultural space.

The Spilberk Castle complex was built on a hilltop in the 13th century. Like other castles in the region, it was once used as a temporary residence for Moravian Margraves. Throughout the centuries, it was used as a fortress, military barracks, and most recently a prison during Nazi occupation before becoming the museum and live entertainment venue it is today.

The site of the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul has welcomed religious groups since the 11th century, though it wasn’t until the end of the 13th century that this chapel was reconstructed into a basilica. The cathedral continues to host services and parish events, but is also open to the public to respectfully explore on guided and self-guided tours.

Brno’s Capuchin Crypt has a surprisingly limited history compared to Capuchin Crypts elsewhere. In 1645, the Swedish siege of Brno destroyed a monastery that sat outside the city’s walls and those buried in the destroyed crypt were relocated to this tomb from 1656. Around 200 people were buried here, as a new law passed in 1784 banned burials in the city, and their mummified remains now lie within the crypt.

In a country best known for its medieval styles of architecture, Villa Tugendhat in Brno is a striking example of the modernist style. Designed by the German architects Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich, the building was completed in 1930 and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2001.

The Mahen Theatre, originally called the Germany City Theatre, is the main theater of the National Theatre Brno. It was opened in 1882 as the first theater on the continent with fully electrical lights. In recent years, a resurgence of talent on the stage has made it a renowned venue showcasing national and international performances.