Things to see and do Brno

Since the place Zelný Trh, by borrowing small rue Petrská (in the Southwest of the place), one reaches the hill of Petrov, on which the cathedral of Brno is drawn up. Surrounded by the complex of the palaces of the bishopric (Biskupský Palác), the church is surmounted by impressive romantic arrows, quickly become symbols of the town of Brno. Built on the campsite of the first castle of the city and a basilica of romanesque style (and perhaps even of a temple dedicated to Venus), this church, Gothic in the beginning, were set fire to by the Swedes in 1645. It was rebuilt in baroque style, then refitted in Gothic style in XIX^e century. Inside, one from the start is crushed (it is the goal besides) by the main altar, high with 12 m and is decorated, in particular, of the statues of saint Pierre and holy Paul, carved by the Viennese Josef Leimer in 1881. The very high stained-glass windows, behind the altar, absolutely superb, are extremely coloured and rich person of thousand details. This part of the building which surrounds the altar enjoys a major and hot light, contrasting with the rest of the building cream color. Perhaps this interior hides a secrecy: specialists are checking the assumption according to which the cathedral would still preserve the bones of saint Constantine, the pere of Christianity in Central Europe. One will be able to climb at the top of a tower to admire the city. Or to go down in the crypt from XII^e century.

Špilberk Hill, which rises to the west of the city centre, dominates the city without overwhelming it. Many visitors start by climbing the hill to get a bird's eye view of Brno before exploring the city. Although the slopes of Špilberk are now forested, they were once left bare to facilitate the defence of the fortress built on top. The first Gothic castle (enveloping type) dates from the 13th century. In the 15th century, the Luxembourg family ruled over the whole of Moravia from here. But there are few traces of this fortified residence. It was completely remodelled in the 18th and 19th centuries. Over the centuries, the site was attacked, without success, by the Hussites, the huge Swedish army (in 1645) and the Prussians. In 1805, Napoleon took possession of it without fighting, a few days before the Battle of Austerlitz. In 1809, Špilberk was taken again and its outer defence system dismantled. The fortress was later used as a prison and it is to this sad function that Špilberk still owes its reputation today. It was first used as a detention centre by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It became the most famous prison of the empire and a symbol of the struggle of the various nations of the empire for independence. One of the most illustrious guests was the Italian poet Silvio Pellico, who wrote his collection of pamphlets De mes prisons.

St. Thomas Abbey is built in an area where Brno's oldest foundations have been found. The present Gothic church, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, was built in 1323 as the main building of a Cistercian monastery. The museum pays tribute to the work of the monk-researcher Gregor Johann Mendel (1822-1884), who conducted his experiments on peas here, making him (only after his death) the founding father of the theory of heredity and the most important precursor of genetics. The complex also includes an experimental garden and a cultural center. In 2022, to mark the bicentenary of the researcher's birth, a comprehensive exhibition on his work was inaugurated in the abbey, presenting it in a playful and interactive way. Facsimiles, photographs, enlarged microscope views and hands-on workshops provide an insight into the workings of dominant and recessive genes and, above all, how they are passed on from one generation to the next, something Mendel discovered in his own time.

The architecture of this abbey is unique in Moravia, and its grey bricks are unusual to say the least. Inside, don't miss the Baroque altar (1762), the giant late-Gothic chandelier and the gold-plated tabernacle. The basilica is also home to the country's oldest (^13th century) wood painting, depicting a highly venerated black Madonna (Černá Madona).

Adjacent to the museum dedicated to Mendel, you can also visit the abbey's brand-new museum, which opened in early 2022. It offers a complete tour of the Augustinian abbey, including the Baroque library with its 4,000 books (a further 23,000 are hidden in secret passages!), followed by the abbey treasury and its magnificent liturgical artefacts. The tour continues with a complete collection of well-preserved tunics and religious vestments from various periods. One room will of course be dedicated to Mendel, but will leave aside his discoveries, well detailed in the museum dedicated to him, to focus instead on the research of his time and his life in the abbey, with numerous personal objects in support. Among the beautiful pieces on display is a Rubens, which belongs to the Augustinian order and was previously exhibited in Prague. A fascinating exhibition.

A French speaking guide living in Brno, Patrik will help you discover the treasures of his region, whether you are alone, in couple or in group. Patrik is very pleasant to be with and has an excellent level of culture. He also has a good knowledge of Moravian wines and will be able to guide you to the best cellars in the region. A very good way to discover the best parts of Brno while enjoying the comments of Patrik, who knows the history of the city and the Czech Republic in general.

An absolutely unmissable visit to Brno, although not the easiest to organize. As the villa is a Unesco heritage site, guided tours that take groups of 16 people at a time quickly fill up. It is often best to book well in advance, sometimes several months before the scheduled date of the visit if it falls in the high tourist season. As soon as you know the dates of your stay in Brno, go to the ticket office to reserve your time slot. Please note that there is an extra charge for taking pictures and that heels are not allowed in order to avoid damaging the floors.

Built in 1929-1930 by the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for the Tugendhat couple, it is a functional work of art, unique in its kind, for its construction, its furniture and the arrangement of the space. An avant-garde architecture in its time and which melts in the decoration of a park which, if it lost of its surface, preserved the plan which emphasized the villa on the heights.

The visit lasts 1 hour or 1h30 depending on the tour you choose and will be more or less extensive. The long visit will allow you to see the boiler room and ventilation systems in the basement, huge engine rooms that seem disproportionate today but which were at the top of technology at the time.

In the common trunk of the two visits, we will penetrate on the floor the entrance and the rooms with the furniture of the time in the same vein as the house. But it is the reception room that is the highlight of the show. A bath of light and warmth is provided by the huge bay windows, which were already moved at the time by electric cylinders that allowed the heat produced by the magnifying glass effect to be evacuated. On the living room side, one dreams of sitting in one of the two rows of Barcelona armchairs, while on the office side, one is amazed by the play of light through the titanic onyx piece that separates the two spaces. The small reading room seems quite dark in comparison, but has some surprises in store for the bar! The kitchen, laundry room and drying room are also surprisingly large and modern for their time. The restoration work was perfectly carried out and, despite the damage caused during the war and then during the Soviet period, the villa has retained all its character and its capacity to seduce. The exit is through the park, from where you can still enjoy beautiful views of this unique building.