In South Moravia you will find a large number of chapels, churches, and magnificent cathedrals such as Brno’s Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. Brno also has the Gothic Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which is part of the originally Cistercian and later Augustinian monastery. Thanks to the Augustinians’ efforts in the field of education, the adjacent abbey was a center for both spiritual and scientific life. The founder of genetics Gregor Johann Mendel and the composer Leoš Janáček also worked here.

Another church in Brno that is worth mentioning is the Church of St. James on Jakubské náměstí, under which the former burial ground and cellars of the old ossuary were discovered in 2011. It is the second-largest in Europe in terms of the number of bodily remains. Today, the Constance at St. James is a place of reverence and at the same time a popular tourist attraction.

For admirers of architecture, Brno is a true marvel. The city is diverse, surprising, and beautiful. As you walk through Brno you will come across medieval castles, churches and cathedrals, the pioneering works of modern architecture and the skyline buildings of the future. The biggest highlight of them all is the beautiful Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, located in the city center on the so-called Petrov Hill. You can’t miss it.

Other historical classics are definitely Špilberk Castle and the lookout tower of the Old Town Hall, from which you will have a view of Brno from above. Don’t miss the Capuchin church and crypt near Zelný Trh, the Church of St. Jacob, or Veveří Castle. The first half of the 20th century was a golden era of Modernist architecture and splendid villas. The most astonishing, the Villa Tugendhat designed in the Functionalist style, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Brno, you will also find the tallest building in the country: the AZ Tower skyscraper reaches a height of 111 meters and its 30 floors are home to a shopping gallery, offices, and luxury apartments. Set off on an tour of Brno’s architecture and travel through time.

Below the streets of the historic towns you will find large underground spaces, which were created by connecting the original cellars of townhouses. These served as a storehouse for their owners and even as a shelter during the war. One such underground labyrinth is hidden under Zelný Trh in Brno. It is almost three kilometers long and includes an alchemical laboratory, a wine cellar, a historic tavern, a replica of a city pillory, and a cage of fools.

Museum where once lived and worked the “father of genetics”

The Mendel Museum, situated in the grounds of the Augustinian Abbey of St. Thomas, invites visitors to the exhibition: Gregor Johann Mendel – the Story of a Humble Genius. This modern exhibition focuses on the critical years that mark important stages in the life of this famous scientist: childhood and education, acceptance into the monastery in Old Brno and experiments with green peas, his election as abbot, and Mendel’s hobbies of meteorology and beekeeping.

Part of the exhibition is dedicated to the years following the death of G. J. Mendel, when Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance and genetics, which continue to affect our lives, were rediscovered. The tour culminates with a manuscript handwritten by Mendel, his seminal Versuche über Pflantzenhybriden (Experiments on Plant Hybridization).

The museum also consists of an accompanying exhibition, which playfully introduces us to the cell, DNA and the laws of Mendelian Inheritance. At the end, we have the opportunity to compare the conditions under which G. J. Mendel conducted his research with a contemporary laboratory.

The adjacent garden with its foundations of the Mendel greenhouse, the site where once stood an orangery and apiary, also offers an inspiring environment. Despite the inner-city location, visitors will enjoy this oasis of tranquillity, with a view over to the Basilica of the Assumption.

The museum is located on Mendel Square.