What stood on the site of Brno’s New Town Hall before it became the city’s administrative building?
Explanation:
The New Town Hall isn’t exactly “new” (the core is centuries old), but it became Brno’s city hall only in 1935. This sprawling complex of buildings has seen a lot: it originated as a Dominican monastery in the 13th century and later served as the Moravian regional assembly and administrative center.
Walk into the courtyard if it’s open – you’ll find a charming mix of architectural styles, from Gothic cloisters to Renaissance and Baroque embellishments. Statues, old well fountains, and even a sundial decorate the premises.
One interesting historical contrast: in 1939 Adolf Hitler addressed citizens from one of the balconies here; decades later in 1996 Queen Elizabeth II spoke from the opposite balcony.
Today this is where the Mayor and city council manage the civic life of Brno. It’s much quieter than the Old Town Hall, with offices and meeting halls rather than dragons and wheels.
The New Town Hall shows how Brno has reused historic buildings for new purposes – a monastery turned government center turned modern city hall.
Directions to next stop:
Time for one more round of beers. From Dominikánské Square, turn left onto Veselá Street and then take the first right onto Středova Street. At the end of that street turn left. Stopkova Plzeňská Pivnice is located at Česká 5 – you’ll likely recognize its antique red-and-white facade and classic Czech pub interior through the windows.