Brno, the second-largest city in the Czech Republic, was not on my list of destinations to visit in Europe, but when I told my dear friend Ingrid that I was traveling to the country, she requested that I visit Brno to meet her.
I met Ingrid in a fitness class, and she is aware that my favorite things are beer gardens and hip European towns. I might say that she enticed me to her city, but in reality, I was drawn there voluntarily, much like a moth to a flame.
With her love of dressing up, her upswept blonde hair, and her Eastern European accent, Ingrid reminds me of a modern-day Zsa Zsa Gabor. I adore her. She insisted on an authentic lunch at Stopkova in the center of town, where we consumed goulash and beer, of course, on our first day of exploration.
There were no aisles of tourist stores or throngs of people in Brno, which was a stark contrast to what I saw in Prague. In fact, I don’t remember noticing any visitors at all; instead, I only saw the Czechs going about their daily lives. Compared to Prague, Brno moves at a slower pace with a calmer vibe, which I liked.
We walked everywhere instead of taking public transportation, which is my preferred method of travel. Brno is a tiny city that is simple to navigate on foot, but there are also trams, bicycles, and trains and buses that can take you anyplace outside of the city.
The heart of downtown is Moravian Square, one of the biggest squares with an oddly huge statue of an equestrian.
Freedom Square, the primary gathering spot where people gather to listen to music and sunbathe close to the fountain, is reached after a short distance of walking.
As you walk the avenues, a city’s palette becomes apparent. In Provence, I noticed sunlight hues, while in Bergen, I noticed rich reds and yellows. The architecture in Avignon is primarily clay-colored, but in Brno, it is painted in pastel colours, including mellow yellows, apricot tones, light greens and blues, and brick reds with patina.
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Similar to other European cities, Brno has amazing buildings with distinctive façade right next to its pubs and restaurants. The locals linger with friends over lengthy lunches and evenings and outdoor cafes are a part of life here as well.
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You must consume authentic local cuisine while visiting Czech. I had a lot of goulash, as well as my fair share of schnitzel, fried cheese, and the local sweets. When I’m traveling, there is no such thing as a diet, which is why I walk everywhere. Since beer in the Czech Republic is well-known, I did my share and tried a lot of the regional brews. I never felt let down.
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A Baroque fountain and calm area named Zeln may be seen as you make your way toward the castle; during the week, it comes alive with a bustling farmers market.
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On weekdays, you can find vendors selling fruits, vegetables, and flowers at Zeln (Vegetable Market). Under the Vegetable Market, there is a labyrinth that leads to unusual and enigmatic locations, such as old cellars (we didnt visit, but I had to mention).
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I enjoy using the flowers and vegetables as hints as I examine the labels in a hopeless attempt to pick up a few new phrases.
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A volunteer-run, benevolent coffee cart was found by our team. It was a simple deal to promise to carry out a kind deed in return for a free coffee under the pay it forward philosophy.
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The castle on a hill is called Hrad Spilberk; it is surrounded by beautiful, tranquil grounds from which you can see the entire city below.
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The castle was formerly a fortification and then transformed into a jail. You can explore the former jail’s cells, and for effect, there are mannequins inside dressed as inmates. To prevent freaking out anyone reading this blog, I refrained from sharing a photo, but if you want to see what I mean, check out the image I submitted! It seemed eerie, and the vaulted passages are reputed to contain horrific tales. (Despite our fear, we couldn’t stop laughing at the mannequins’ antics.)
We also went to the Church of St. James, which is close to the downtown main square, where there is the second-largest ossuary in Europe. There are skulls and bones placed in a moist underground crypt, and it is free to the public for viewing. Listen to classical music created particularly for guests as you go around it. I had never been inside an ossuary before, so that was novel. I won’t show you any images of the skull and bones; you’ll simply have to go and see for yourself.
We accomplished a lot more throughout my three-day stay. We went to some stunning cathedrals, drove to a lake to check out the beer gardens, and then ate fried cheese and beer for dinner while watching the boats pass by at dusk.
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In Brno, people stay up late. The folks purchasing beer from the breweries across the street from centuries-old cathedrals are entertained by street musicians until far after midnight. On the night before we left, we got together with other friends and had cocktails on a rooftop bar.
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98% of the time, Ingrid’s pals spoke Czech. Even though I couldn’t understand a word they were saying while I watched them tell stories, I was able to follow along. In both Brno and the United States, going out with your friends is the same thing because we all seek the same things: connection and laughter.
Even though I knew there would be some time before I came back when the sun set in Brno, I smiled as I went to bed. I had never been to this city three days prior, yet I left with a fresh appreciation in my mind and heart for another location on that European continent that I so enjoy traveling.
