Discover Brno: UNESCO Architecture and Historic Spaces

Brno: Architecture, History and Unusual Spaces

Brno brings architecture, history and nature together for you in one trip. Villa Tugendhat, the ossuary at St. James, the casemates of Špilberk Castle and the water reservoirs on Žlutý kopec each offer a different focus. In addition, Brno Zoo and several green spaces or scenic destinations are located in the nearby and wider surrounding area. This allows you to choose between architectural history, underground spaces, fortress history, and animal and nature-related topics.

UNESCO-Ranked Architecture

Villa Tugendhat was built in 1929–1930 based on a design by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and his associates. It is the only example of modern architecture in the Czech Republic to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. If you would like to include twentieth-century architecture alongside older buildings, it provides a clear cultural focus.

Villa Tugendhat offers a 90-minute guided tour of the entire building, including the technical facilities. The scope of the tour suits a visit where not only the exterior design but also the interior and technical concept are meant to play a role.

Underground History and Fortress Spaces

The ossuary at St. James was opened to the public in 2012. Measured by the number of skeletal remains, it is the second-largest ossuary in Europe—after the Paris Catacombs—and one of Brno’s tourist attractions. Visitors can tour the unique spaces; they were discovered during an examination of the underground in 2001.

The casemates of Å pilberk Castle were built in the Baroque period as a long, barrel-vaulted corridor system. They served as a prison for nearly a century and have been open to the public for 135 years. Their construction and history of use give this place a different historical character from Villa Tugendhat.

Water Reservoirs, Zoo and Surrounding Area

The water reservoirs on Žlutý kopec had a combined 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. The complete group of three was opened to the public in March 2024 and can be visited in a state that is almost original.

Brno Zoo is located in the area around Brno. It participates in international species protection programmes and protects endangered species both in human care and in their original habitats. The nearby surroundings of Brno also include sady Osvobození Park and Lužánky Park. In this way, animal and green spaces complement the historical sights with additional themes.

Stádla is a mountain in the wider area around Brno, as is Babí Lom. Zlobica is a mountain in the wider regional area around Brno. Špilberk is a hill in the vicinity of Brno, while Kuchlov lies farther away in the wider regional area as a ruin. These different descriptions of location help you choose where to stay: first decide whether you want to prioritise destinations in the nearby surroundings or landscapes and cultural sites located farther away in the region.

For further location suggestions, you can also look at Žebětín, Horní Heršpice and Bystrc.

For the higher-level travel overview: Brno.

More About the Destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Brno - Czech Republic Network.