What unusual object is hanging from the ceiling of Brno’s Old Town Hall passageway?
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. But locals lovingly call it the Brněnský drak and have been showing it off since the 1600s.
The other odd exhibit here is the 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. Against all expectations, he did it.
Both the dragon and the wheel have become symbols 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 act of protest. This Old Town Hall is basically Legend Central.
Directions to next stop:
Exit the Old Town Hall 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.