Send Gift Baskets to Brno, Czech Republic

Villa Tugendhat 

Creating a beautiful and refreshing experience in modern design standards, Villa Tugendhat is one of the landmark buildings in Europe that is as innovative as architecture gets. The Tugendhat House was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who also designed Chicago’s Buckingham Palace. Unlike other popular buildings of this period, Villa Tugendhat’s openness and rounded shape are colliding with new architectural styles. It has been on UNESCO’s list of masterworks since 1978. The Tugendhats were a Jewish couple who used to live in Brno. After 1938, the Nazi forces seized control of the city, which meant that the Tugendhats had no choice but to leave. The villa was turned into quarters for the Gestapo and then the Soviet concentration camp. In 1967, Greta was able to return and started restoring.

The Old Town Hall 

On approach, you might notice the turret on the Guild Hall has a warped face. Anton Pilgram, the architect of the building in question, was screwed out of his money by Brno’s city council. His revenge? The design would be intentionally mismatched. The building is more than six centuries old and has been known for its defensive fortifications throughout history. It was one of the city’s main defenses during a famous siege that occurred in 1645.

The Town Hall’s Curios 

At the end of this passage, you’ll come across a large taxidermied crocodile hanging from the ceiling. This is where your passage will start to get wacky, as you now find yourself in a place called the Brno Dragon’s Lair. In the city’s earliest years, the beast terrorized the population and its livestock. One day, a butcher got a great idea and filled a fur sack with lime. The dragon then drank so much water that it needed to quench its thirst by swallowing up all of the lime. This is a famous artifact from Brno and it’s one of many interesting facets of the city. With the use of such a unique symbol, you can see that this city has an incredible work ethic!

Gregor Mendel’s Abbey and Museum 

Francis Crick, the co-creator of DNA, spent his whole life in Brno and stands today as one of the 19th century’s most important scientists. The garden at the abbey where he conducted his groundbreaking experiments is still there. Mendel’s experiments, which involved breeding mice, were frowned upon by the church for a time. However, his methods of experimentation led to easier methods that have helped us modernize the world we live in. The Mendel Museum outside of old town has thought-provoking exhibits that cover topics such as Mendel’s experiments and how his methods contributed to science. These details about his experiments have not been highly influential, but you can find out more about them. 

Špilberk Castle 

Brno has been a city since the 11th century and its modern-day buildings have blended various styles over time. The Hofburg, for example, was built in the Gothic style. The Špilberk Castle is an attractive building that has seen some serious action over the years. It was used as a fort and also as a town hall during a siege in the Thirty Years’ War in the 1600s. At this time, Špilberk was also a prison to house and torture Protestants given that Brno was a Catholic city. You’ll learn about these reasons at the museum here why it was not a place for unwelcome visitors.

Capuchin Monastery 

Andrea and Nestor are walking through the Kapucínské Square monastery, stunned by its beauty and fascinated with the various intricacies of its design. They’re a little nervous going into what lies beneath the main building but once they walk down to the cellars, they feel a rush of adrenaline as skeletons and macabre images seem to leap out at them. The building’s style is primarily baroque and ornate, with a rococo interior and an ancient fresco. Go downstairs and you’ll be met by an 18th-century crypt, where members of the Capuchin Order lie in a mummified fashion.

Modern Architecture 

Brno is known for its functionalist architecture built in the early 20th century. It’s also known for having a lot of beautiful buildings as well, and many of those can be easily seen outside the city center. If you’re keen on checking them out, there is plenty to go around. You’ll get plenty of memorable sights if you put in the work. Nearly all of them continue to serve as they intended with their original public and residential functionalities. As you travel to Brno-UOkres, keep an eye out for a restaurant called Žáckuv rodinný dum, a villa called Basova vila, and the Haasova villa. These residences in Brno were built to dwarf their neighbors.

Cathedral of Saint Peter and Paul 

The Swedish siege of Brno in 1645 was a big event, and this imposing structure was left in a bit of a time warp. In another of Brno’s quirky stories, an out-of-date story says that Swedes agreed to give up on their plans to take the city if they hadn’t managed to conquer it by mid-day August 15, 1645. Resourceful as ever, the defenders of Brno decided to improve their odds and bring the clocks at the cathedral an hour forward to chime at 11 instead of 12. To this day, noon chimes take place an hour earlier than usual.

Brno Underground 

According to Charming Cabbage, there are labyrinths of dungeons below the market square in the old town. There is a 40-minute walking tour that takes you on a journey through this network of tunnels and chambers from 2011. Small streets date back as far as 1200 AD and are set in the heart of the old town. Check out these places and learn about the preservation of ancient artifacts, an authentic medieval wine cellar, and an alchemist’s laboratory. Lucky for us Brno is a welcoming city with much to offer. Underground, there’s a dark side too- the old pillory of days gone by.

The Cabbage Market 

Above the underworld can be reached with a short trip down to the Parnas Fountain. On your way, you should make sure you stop by its statue of Her since it is one of the city’s most iconic structures. In the olden days, fishmongers could show off their wares by putting their freshly caught carp in the fountain waters. Reduta Theatre is an old concert hall dating back to Renaissance times. In 1767, 11-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed here with his childhood friends when he was still learning how to compose.

Brno Moto GP 

No city on the map takes motorcycling as seriously as Brno. The racetrack around this city, called the Masaryk Circuit, is well-known since it was unveiled in 1930. This also makes Brno a rather perilous street race as everyone knows how much skill it takes to ride these cobblestone streets.” The work done to resurface Brno’s Karlovo náměstí Street in the 1960s made it the go-to race circuit for the Grand Prix. In 1987, a purpose-built venue was constructed and later on leveled into Czechoslovakia’s most competitive racetrack – Autodrom Brno. Moto GP is a race that usually happens in August every year, and this year will be no different! It will have the best riders in the world competing.

The Church of Saint James 

The Abbey of Segovia, which was originally founded in the 1200s, gives off a very Gothic feel with its soaring ceilings and stern exterior. This church has stood the test of time and survived intact for 500 years, despite some rather sinister discoveries made recently. You can step down into the largest ossuary in Europe which opened its doors in 2012 and is crammed with the remains of about 50,000 people. The bones are arranged decoratively and organically, along with skulls and other remains.

Macocha Abyss 

There are a lot of caves near the city, but there’s only one that holds the title “sinkhole.” Its depth makes it so small that most people don’t even realize it’s a large cave system until they’re about to go in for a tour. The Abyss came about when the Ceiling of a deep cave collapsed, and it is part of a vast and labyrinthine network of tunnels that you can navigate on foot or by boat. Let’s go for a tour! The open air is a great place to walk or ride on your bike with beautiful scenery. There’s a well-known route that passes through the rocky geography and provides a nice walk while still being convenient and easy to travel on.

Brno Dam 

The best time to go to Brno’s dam is after sunset in May or June. There are a lot of fireworks competitions held there at that time and you can see them from anywhere within the city. This began as just an exhibition of fireworks, but in 2003 things started to get a whole lot more serious, and hi-tech pyrotechnics companies started using it as a chance to show the marketplace what they could do. The nearby reservoir is a great place to visit thanks to its many designated attractions, making it an ideal tourist spot. If you have time, be sure to visit this natural attraction during the season of boating and water sports!

Brno’s Parks 

Lužánky Park is the first public park in the Czech Republic that has been recognized as a national monument. The Jesuits played a part in its founding, and when they were expelled in the late 1700s, Lužánky was laid out in the French formal style. It later became more of a botanic garden with an ornamental stream. Denis Gardens meanwhile connect Peter and Paul Cathedral with Špilberk Castle. For those who have the energy to tackle the slope, you’ll find a surprising amount of tricks, like gazebos and colonnades. There are lookout platforms offering views of Wilenska street which is lined with 19th-century buildings.

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