Old Town Hall
The Czech Republic is full of surprises. On this particular trip, it was my second time setting foot in the Czech Republic and I was still mesmerised by the towns that I come across.
Brno is not usually a town that probably makes the list of places to visit in the Czech Republic. For me, it only came onto my radar because the road would loop us back into Poland so was a good place to stop for the night to rest before hitting the road again. It was more a convenience stop and in hindsight, it would have been worth having a full day just to explore.
Brno is the second biggest city in the Czech Republic after Prague. But there is a huge difference in population. Prague has a population of roughly 1.3 million whilst Brno has a population of around 390, 000.
We arrived in the evening and after checking into our accommodation, were eager to explore the old town area and find some food. Prior to arriving, we had just been in Vienna and were so happy to be able to be met with a decent portion of food for a lot less of a price. When I had visited the Czech Republic many years ago and do remember being impressed by the architecture, but I had been blown away by the food. This time however, I was also blown away by the food. Consistently at every meal and with the beers.
Hovězí guláš (Czech goulash) and Smažený sýr (fried cheese)
Náměstí Svobody Plaza
The Old Town is huge and almost had a big town feel to it. Restaurants with outdoor dining were full. The square was huge and lined with Renaissance style buildings (and probably a mix of other styles). The cobblestone paths, not really a road in this case, was completely pedestrianised with a tram line. Walking around at sunset, it felt safe and lively.
The next morning, I did visit the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul which you will not miss as it towers above the city centre. The altar, stained glass windows and general interiors are worth seeing.
Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in the background
Vegetable Market (There’s a Mozart statue outside the National Theatre as a tribute to when he performed here when he was 11)
I’ve made note of these places to explore for next time:
- Papilonia: a butterfly house housing and small birds
- Špilberk Castle: exploring a medieval fortress and former prison
- Moravian Museum: Brno was the former capital of Moravia (the historical region). I think this museum would be interesting to learn more about the history of the area.
- Old Town Hall- paid entry. The tower can be climbed in summer.
- Take a Labyrinth Tour Under the Vegetable Market
If you’ve been to Brno before, what did you think? Would you add this charming town to your next itinerary?
Lingo in Transit 
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