Brno Cathedral is one of the most iconic churches in the Czech Republic. The second city’s Cathedral adorns the country’s 10 koruna coin, and is one of the most recognizable Czech landmarks. It’s like something out of a Gothic fairytale, its twin spires of the hilltop church soaring high above the city, making it one of the best things to see in Brno.
While the Cathedral is widely known among Czechs, it’s not as well-known internationally. It deserves better. Even if you’re only stopping in the city for a few hours, it’s well worth walking through the Old Town and up Petrov Hill, stepping back in time to the Middle Ages for an hour or so. It’s also the place to come for some of the best views of Brno.
In this feature I’ll tell you about the Cathedral’s history, and explain what there is to see. I’ll also tell you when it’s open, how to get there, and where to stay nearby. I’ll also suggest some other things to do in Brno, a city well worth staying in for a few days, and even using as a base to explore the Moravia region.
Tours of Brno
Walking tours of Brno are a great introduction to the city.
This Brno Old Town walking tour takes you around the streets below the Cathedral including beautiful Zelny trh (Cabbage Market) before the short climb up Petrov Hill to the Cathedral.
And this tour of the hidden gems of Brno covers the Old Town as well as the Cathedral.
Brno Cathedral History
The Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul has its origins in the 11th and 12th centuries, when a Romanesque chapel or church was built on the site of the present Cathedral.
A larger church was built in the 13th century, only to suffer serious damage in a major fire that engulfed Petrov Hill in 1306.
The present church began to take shape in the 14th century, when it was rebuilt in the contemporary Gothic style (with pointed arches). However, damage inflicted by Hussite (followers of religious reformer Jan Hus) troops inflicted further damage. This necessitated further rebuilding in the 15th century.
Brno’s Cathedral suffered yet more damage during the Thirty Years War, but is said to have played an important role in saving the city and relieving the 1645 Siege of Brno.
Swedish General Lennart Torstensson had stated that if his forces had not captured the city by noon on 15th August, he would withdraw from the city. Some of the locals deceived the Swedes by ringing the Cathedral bells to signify noon one hour earlier, at 11.00 am. The Swedish forces abandoned the siege soon afterwards. The bells still strike noon an hour early to this day.
The failure of the Siege of Brno also meant that Brno would replace Olomouc, which had been captured, as the pre-eminent city in Moravia.
Further rebuilding continued in the 18th and 19th centuries, by which time the exterior was in the Gothic style, but the interior was largely Baroque.
The two spires were added by Austrian architect August Kirstein early in the 20th century, at a height of 84 metres (276 feet).
What To See In Brno Cathedral
Before going inside, take time to walk around the Cathedral and take time to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. It’s one of the most obvious sights in Brno but the area seldom gets crowded – and we were there in the late summer. The cobbled streets are beautiful – well worth the short steep uphill walk.
If you walk around the south side of the Cathedral, you’ll encounter several small sculptures. These are later additions – the most striking (for me) is that of the bishop’s mitre with two hands below it holding a book. I’d have loved to know more about it, so if you’re on a walking tour, ask your guide.
Brno’s Cathedral towers are well worth the climb, as the views over the city are phenomenal. You can access the viewing galleries in both towers. The south tower is the first one you reach, and this commands some great bird’s eye views over the streets of Petrov Hill. You then reach the second (north) tower via a passageway. This has awesome views over the Old Town, including the many church spires and towers, and the Spilberk Castle.
Inside the church still has its Gothic fabric – including the ceiling vaults – but it had a substantial Baroque makeover in the 17th and 18th centuries. Several churches in the Czech Republic went through similar remodelling, and my son, immediately after entering the Cathedral, remarked,”This is really similar to the Týn Church in Prague.” He is spot on – the interiors do resemble each other.
The main Baroque elements are the ornamentation. This includes the elaborate side chapels and altars and some of the tombs around the church. But the most striking feature inside is the Baroque pulpit, which was produced by the workshop of sculptor Ondřej Schweigl.
Where Is the Cathedral In Brno?
The Cathedral is on a street called Petrov. This street is on a hill commonly called Petrov. And the Cathedral itself is often called Petrov.
It’s on the southwestern edge of Brno’s Old Town, around a ten-minute walk from the main station, and a five-minute uphill walk from Zelny trh square (usually called Cabbage Market in English).
How To Get To Brno Cathedral
You need to do a short uphill walk to reach the Cathedral, with trams taking you within a few minutes of it.
The closest stop is Šilingrovo náměstí, from where it’s little more than a 5-minute walk to the Cathedral. Trams 5 and 12 stop there.
Tram 12 runs from Brno main station (Brno hl n or Brno hlavní nádraží), and stops just below the Cathedral at Nové sady. It’s a steeper climb from there (through the park) than from Šilingrovo náměstí, and also takes around 5 minutes.
The other option is to take trams 4 or 9 from the station to Zelný trh, and walk across the square and up Petrska and then Petrov to The Cathedral. This is the most enjoyable walk of the three, and takes 7-8 minutes.
Brno Cathedral – Opening Hours
The Cathedral is open Mondays to Saturdays from 8.15 am to 6.30 pm, and from 7.00 am to 6.30 pm on Sundays.
Entry to the Cathedral is free, but you pay 60 CZK (around €2.40) to climb the towers. These are open daily from 11.00 am to 4.45 pm. They are occasionally closed in adverse weather conditions.
Where To Stay – Hotels Near Brno Cathedral
Most hotels in Brno are a short walk down the hill from the Cathedral The hotels I suggest here are all within a ten-minute walk of the Cathedral:
***** – Grand Palace Brno – the closest luxury hotel to the Cathedral, just below Petrov Hill
**** – Grand Hotel Brno – historic Brno hotel close to the train and bus stations, and a three-minute walk from the heart of the Old Town
**** – Hotel Avion – wonderful functionalist architecture, a National Cultural Monument and great hotel in the Old Town
**** – Hotel Pegas – great old hotel in the Old Town, and they also brew their own excellent beer
**** – Apartment Biskupska – the closest accommodation to Brno Cathedral, just a flight of stairs away
See Also: Hotel Avion Brno Review – find out what we thought about our 4-night stay in this Functionalist gem
Other Places To Visit In Brno
There are enough places to see in Brno to fill at least a day. There are several fascinating churches in Brno, and the closest to the Cathedral is the Capuchin Church just down the hill. Most people visit to see the Capuchin Crypt, where some once eminent Brno citizens have been lying in open coffins for centuries, in varying states of decay.
The decaying process has gone a lot further in the Brno Ossuary. Around 50,000 souls lie in this crypt below St James Church, which had been forgotten for around 2200 years, and was only rediscovered in 2001. It’s an incredible sight, created because of the lack of space in the cemeteries in Brno – bodies (or rather bones) were removed after a decade or so, transferred to this huge underground cellar for the dead.
Zelny trh is named after the vegetable and fruit market it hosts, and you can explore either below it in the labyrinth of medieval tunnels once used for food storage, and later as a prison and air raid shelter. Or you could climb up to one of the best viewpoints in Brno, the Old Town Hall Tower, where you get outstanding views of the Cathedral.
The other main landmark in the centre of Brno is the Špilberk, the hilltop castle which now serves as the city museum.
Brno’s UNESCO World Heritage Site is two miles away in the suburbs. At the time it was completed in 1930, Villa Tugendhat was the most expensive private residence ever built. It’s also a functionalist masterpiece, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and it’s one of the most influential buildings of the 20th century.
Brno Cathedral – Final Words
I hope you’ve enjoyed this article. Brno is a brilliant city to visit, one where we have stopped by several times in the last few years. If you’re curious about the city, check out my guides to spending One Day In Brno and visiting Brno Christmas Markets. I have also linked to some other Brno articles in the course of the article – take a look at these too.
Brno is also a great jumping-off point for much of Moravia, the southeastern part of the Czech Republic, with enough day trips from Brno to fill a week or more.. It’s only an hour away from the gorgeous wine town of Mikulov, one of the best border towns in Europe to visit. It’s also close to the Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape close to the Austrian border. This is one of the best off the beaten path World Heritage Sites in Europe, and a magical area to spend a day or two. Check out my features on Lednice Castle and Valtice Castle for more information.