Explanation:

The “Brno Dragon” – actually a crocodile – hangs from the Old Town Hall ceiling, with a famous wooden wheel visible behind it. This stop is a two-for-one deal in Brno legend lore, featuring a dragon and a wheel. First, gaze up at that fearsome-looking croc suspended from the ceiling. According to Brno legend, a dragon once terrorized the city, devouring livestock and striking fear into locals. Along came a clever butcher who fed the beast a fake meal: an oxhide stuffed with quicklime. The “dragon” gulped it down, got extremely thirsty, and when it drank from the river… BOOM! The quicklime expanded, and the dragon exploded. The grateful townsfolk then preserved the dragon’s body. The twist: it’s actually a Nile crocodile, likely brought to Brno centuries ago as a gift (or a circus attraction). But hey, never let facts get in the way of a good story – locals lovingly call it the Brněnský drak (Brno Dragon) and have been showing it off since the 1600s. Now, the other odd exhibit here is that giant wooden wheel leaning against the wall. It’s tied to the Legend of Jiří Birk, a master wheelwright from a town about 50 km away. In 1636, Birk made a bet that he could fell a tree, carve a wheel, and roll it all the way to Brno within a single day (sunrise to sunset). People thought he was crazy – that distance and task in 12 hours? Impossible without a little devilish help! Yet, he did it (legend says maybe with a little help from the Devil, offended by the wager). He won his 14 gulden bet, and that very wheel has been hanging around Brno ever since. Both the dragon and the wheel have become symbol of the city’s can-do (and trickster) spirit. Before you leave, note the town hall’s entry portal – one of the pinnacles is crooked. The story goes that the architect did that on purpose after a dispute over payment, as a little “screw you” to the council. This Old Town Hall is basically Legend Central. You’ve now got bragging rights to say you’ve seen Brno’s famous dragon (even if it’s a crocodile) and the wheel of fortune (even if the Devil might have greased it)!

Directions to next stop:

Exit the Old Town Hall’s courtyard and walk back to the corner of Dominikánské náměstí (Dominican Square) – it’s just one short block away. The New Town Hall occupies the large, yellow-and-white historic buildings on the upper side of Dominikánské Square. Head to the entrance of the New Town Hall (the complex with arched doorways and a coat of arms above the main gate).