Stop 6: Petrov Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul)

Quiz

Why do the bells of Petrov Cathedral ring at 11 o’clock every morning, instead of at noon?

A) Because a clever defender tricked Swedish invaders in 1645 by ringing “noon” an hour early, so the enemy thought they missed their deadline and gave up

B) Because the bell-ringer long ago liked to start his lunch early, and the habit stuck as a town tradition

C) Because of an old mechanical clock mistake – the clock was once an hour off, and superstitious locals kept it that way for good luck

Explanation:

The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul (Petrov) is one of Brno’s iconic landmarks. Brno’s skyline is defined by the cathedral’s twin spires – and now you’re standing close to this 14th-century Gothic beauty with later Baroque additions.

The cathedral holds a famous local quirk: its bells ring “noon” at 11:00 every day. The legend behind it comes from the Thirty Years’ War. Swedish armies were besieging Brno and had vowed to retreat if they had not captured the city by midday.

Brno’s defender Jean-Louis Raduit de Souches heard about this plan and decided to outsmart them. As the clock approached 11:00, he ordered the cathedral bells to ring the noon peal one hour early. The Swedish army believed they had missed their deadline and abandoned the siege.

Thanks to that clever trick, Brno was saved – and the cathedral bells still honor the story today by ringing “noon” at 11.

Aside from this tradition, the cathedral itself is beautiful inside, with high Gothic vaults and stained glass windows. If you have the energy, you can even climb the tower for a panoramic view of the city.

Directions to next stop:

Ready for another pint? From the cathedral, walk downhill along Biskupská Street, pass Šilingrovo Square on your left, and continue down Dominikánská Street. Look for the entrance to Pivovarský dům Poupě on your right (Dominikánská 15). On the opposite side of the street you’ll see the New Town Hall complex – which we’ll explore soon, but first: beer time!