Brno offers a wide range of themes for cultural exploration: modern architecture, underground places with a history of their own, and species conservation. If you are looking for a hotel, the focus of your stay can guide your choice. Villa Tugendhat represents architecture, the ossuary at St James’s Church is a significant testament to the history of burial, and the reservoirs at Žlutý kopec reflect the city’s former water supply.
Villa Tugendhat: modern architecture in Brno
Villa Tugendhat was built in 1929–1930 to a design by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and his colleagues. It is the only example of modern architecture in the Czech Republic to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This makes it a particularly clear-cut destination for travellers interested in architecture and its international recognition.
The villa offers a 90-minute tour of the entire building, including its technical facilities. This gives you both the duration and scope of the tour for planning purposes. As tour formats may change, check the latest booking details before your trip.
Underground places with different histories
The ossuary at St James’s Church opened to the public in 2012. Its chambers were discovered in 2001 during an underground survey, so the discovery and public opening mark different stages in its history. Visitors can tour the chambers. In terms of the number of skeletal remains, the ossuary is the second largest in Europe after the Paris Catacombs and is also one of Brno’s tourist attractions.
The casemates of Špilberk Castle tell a different story. They were built in the Baroque period as a long system of barrel-vaulted passageways and served as a prison for nearly a century. They have been open to the public for 135 years. The comparison shows how differently Brno’s underground places have been shaped: at the ossuary, the focus is on its discovery and skeletal remains; at the casemates, it is on their architectural form and former use as a prison.
The water reservoirs at Žlutý kopec
Together, the reservoirs at Žlutý kopec had a capacity of more than 30 million litres and remained in operation until 1997. At the time, the brick water reservoirs were the largest underground structure in Brno and also the last brick water reservoir built there. Their history thus combines a specific role in the water supply with a distinctive place in the city’s architectural development.
The complete group of three was opened to the public in March 2024 and can be visited in a condition close to its original state. This connects the facility’s former purpose with the experience of visiting it today. As access conditions may change, check the latest information before your visit.
A different focus: species conservation
Brno Zoo offers a distinct focus alongside architecture and building history. It takes part in international species conservation programmes and protects endangered species both in human care and in their original habitats. If you are prioritising your travel interests, this is a different theme from historic buildings and underground sites: the focus here is on protecting species.
Discover more destinations: Ĺ˝ebÄ›tĂn, HornĂ Heršpice, Bystrc
For the broader travel overview: Brno.
