Spilberk Castle

About

Špilberk Castle sits on a hilltop in Brno, Southern Moravia, overlooking the city and the valley below. Built in the early 13th century by Přemyslid royalty and completed under King Ottokar II, the fortress evolved through Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque phases before becoming a famed prison of the Austrian Empire, holding political prisoners, priests and criminals alike. In 1860 the castle was repurposed as barracks, and today it houses the Brno City Museum, offering guided tours of its historic halls, a chapel, towers and the storied prison cell blocks that once held figures such as the Polish and Hungarian revolutionaries. Visitors can explore the castle’s layered architecture, learn about its turbulent past, and enjoy panoramic views of Brno from the fortress walls.