Měnínská Brána (Měnín Gate), Brno

The Měnín Gate (Měnínská Brána) in Brno is the only preserved city gate among the original five that once allowed entry into the city. Located on Měnínská Street, near Náměstí Svobody (Freedom Square), the gate dates back to the 13th century, when it was an integral part of Brno's city walls.

The earliest known records of the Měnín Gate are from 1293, indicating its historical significance. Originally located where Kobližná and Jánská Streets meet today, by 1348, the primary city gate had shifted slightly southward. The gate underwent significant changes around 1500, acquiring its present appearance. Historical accounts suggest that the gate had three or four levels during this period.

The gate's role diminished in the mid-17th century when a large bastion was constructed in front of it as part of the Baroque fortifications. By 1839, the gate was shortened and converted into a house, marking the end of its function as a city gate. Over the next decade, passage through the gate was closed off. Subsequently, the gate was purchased by Mrs. Navrátilová, a local businesswoman known for introducing ''tvarůžky'', a distinctive cheese from Olomouc, to Brno. She used the building's basement to ripen the cheese, and the proceeds from its sales funded the renovation of the gate. Her family continued to reside in the building for four generations.

In 1945, the gate was severely damaged by artillery fire during World War II. The deteriorating structure was acquired by the city of Brno towards the end of the 1960s and was later sold to a private owner, who failed to maintain it. Eventually, the city reclaimed the property, and between 1978 and 1982, the gate was extensively renovated. Since 1970, the Měnín Gate has been used for exhibition purposes and has been under the management of the Brno City Museum. In 2010, it began housing a toy museum, adding to its cultural significance in the city.