Špilberk Castle, Brno (must see)

Spilberk Castle is a castle and citadel from the 13th century. Its construction began under the Premyslid kings, a Bohemian royal dynasty, and was completed by King Ottokar II of Bohemia.

The royal castle was eventually used as a fortification and later became a prison. Spilberk Castle was known as the harshest prison in all of the Austrian Empire. It was first used to imprison Protestants, then became the place for revolutionaries and other political prisoners.

The prison was dissolved in 1855 by Emperor Franz Joseph I. Once the prisoners had all been moved out, it was converted into barracks. However, it served again as a prison during World War II. Civilian objectors and prisoners of war were held in the castle until they were either put to death or sent to Nazi concentration camps.

Spilberk Castle left its dark history behind in 1959 when it became the seat of the Brno City Museum. A permanent exhibit shows the castle's history from its time as a fortress to its tenure as a prison. The history of Brno is also on display. Other permanent exhibits include medicinal research of the region, architecture, and a showcase on fireworks and pyrotechnics.

The castle has a restored lapidarium where stone monuments are displayed. The lapidarium is only available via guided tours. Visitors will also enjoy the Lookout Tower. This tower is the highest spot in Brno that offers a 360-degree view of the city. Visitors should note that the spiral staircase has more than 100 steps to reach the top.