Day Trip to Historic Brno

This town of southern Czechia is home to some amazing architecture as well as a history that goes deep beneath the city streets   . . . 

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For this adventure I rolled into town by train from Vienna, Austria. Depending on the time of day, you may be able to get these tickets at the station for as low as around 10 Euros each way. I awoke bright and early to get an appropriate start on what would become an amazing day trip full of historic experiences.
​Here is what happened:

Old Town Streets and What Lies Beneath

​The train dropped me off right in the middle of all the action. Though I had a long list of attractions I was determined to see, my first objective was to change a bit of cash over to the Czech Koruna. That's right, Czechia has their own currency, and I always struggle with adapting to conversions ... especially when it comes to tipping appropriately. 

Czech Koruna

Now that I have a bit of Czech money in my pocket, it was time to head off through the picturesque city streets to dive deep into the history and see what I can find. Let's go!

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Churches & Architecture of Brno

This is the seventeenth century Church of the Holy Cross. They say that it houses a capuchin crypt complete with the mummies of friars who once served in its monastery. Unfortunately it seemed to not me open at the time of my visit but that's okay, this town has many other sights guaranteed to pique your interest. 

Church of the Holy Cross

Those large spires you can see peeking out from the nearby building tops, those are part of the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul which dates all the way back to the 11th century. It too is said to feature a crypt that houses locals of important historic significance. 

Church of St Peter & St Paul

Below we have a view of the Saint Michael's Church. The base of it is adorned with an assortment of religious statues while its facade displays an elegant Baroque style of architecture. Before this construction in the seventeenth century, the original building suffered great damage at the hands of Swedish forces.

Church of St Michael

This next one is the Church of Saint Thomas. This one is actually the second to be built on this site, as the original was also destroyed by the Swedes in the Thirty Years War. Look closely and you will notice the statue of a horseback warrior seems to be standing guard. 

Church of St Thomas

Monuments Found in Brno

Freedom Square is centrally located in Brno's Old Town. Once referred to as the Lower Market, this place is packed with interesting sights. In the middle you will see a large pillar known as the Plague Column, with a statue of the Virgin Mary as its crowning piece.

Freedom Square

While this area is decorated with an abundance of renaissance architecture, you definitely cannot go without noticing the Astronomical Clock. This strange monolith-looking work of art commemorates Brno's triumph over Swedish forces during the Thirty Years War. It is said that at a certain time of day a marble is released and can be collected as a souvenir. ​

Other notable monuments in town include the Holy Trinity Column, and if you look just out side the Supreme Administrative Court you may also find the Statue of Justice. It is said that the block being carried represents the weight that must be balanced in such a complex society. 

Beneath the Streets of Brno

One of the main attractions that drew me to this interesting town was the Ossuary at the Church of Saint James. This catacomb is one of the largest in all of Europe. It is said that the remains of around 50,000 people are entombed within this crypt. 

St James Ossuary

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If you enjoy exploring the darkness of the realms below, Brno has another attraction in which you may also find interesting. There is also a guided tour of The Labyrinth which will take you on a journey through history to lean about the way things were. Along the way you will see cellars with examples of food storage and an apothecary. This place has a darker side to it too with areas like the torture chamber and even the town's old drunk tank. 

The Labyrinth

Just in case you are wondering ... yes, I did avoid that drunk tank. And speaking of that, I think it is time I give mention to some of the food and beverage you may find here. 

How is the Food in Brno?

Here in Brno you will find a variety of foods from the traditional central European styled brats to pastas and other types of internationally inspired cuisine. I would like to give a special shout out to the fine people at Grasel Pub. Their hospitality is unmatched and the cellar style environment provided a pleasantly cozy break during a long day of adventuring. 

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