Brno-Bohunice

Bohunice is a city district of Brno, the second-largest city in the Czech Republic, located in the southwestern part of the city. It carries a double identity — on one hand a panel-housing estate best known today for hosting one of the largest hospitals in Moravia, and on the other a place still marked by faint traces of the rural village it once was.

How to get there?

Bohunice lies a few kilometres from Brno's city centre and is well connected to the rest of the city by tram and bus lines. The district borders other southwestern parts of Brno and is easy to reach both by public transport and by car — a convenience that helped fuel its rapid housing expansion during the second half of the 20th century.

Where does the name come from and what happened here?

The first written mention of Bohunice dates back to 1237, making it one of the older settlements in the wider Brno area. For centuries the village grew slowly, with a more noticeable expansion beginning in the early 18th century. A turning point came in 1919, when Bohunice was formally incorporated into Brno — from then on, its development followed the pace of the growing city.

The real transformation, however, took place in the second half of the 20th century. Until 1975, Bohunice remained a small, peripheral part of Brno, linked to the city centre by a single bus route. In the 1970s, large-scale housing construction began, quickly pushing the population to around 13,000 by the end of the decade. A moment many former residents still recall with regret came in 1977, when it was decided that the old family houses would be demolished to make way for roads, viaducts, tram lines, and prefabricated apartment blocks. As a result, the former rural character of Bohunice largely disappeared, replaced by the typical socialist-era housing estate layout.

What is there to see?

One of the few, but telling, reminders of old Bohunice is the Chapel of St. Cyril and Methodius from 1871, which survived amid the postwar apartment blocks and today stands as a quiet monument to the vanished historical village. Since 2005, an educational trail with eleven stations has run through the district, introducing residents and visitors alike to its environment, history, and local curiosities — ranging from comparisons between towns and villages, to gardens and fields, old forges, and traces connected to the Thirty Years' War. It's a worthwhile route for anyone interested in the lesser-known, local side of Brno's history.

Today, Bohunice is mostly known for its hospital: it is one of the largest medical facilities in Moravia and one of the biggest in the entire Czech Republic, making the district an important point on the region's healthcare map.

When to visit?

Bohunice is a typically urban district, so it can be visited at almost any time of year. Walking the educational trail is best planned for spring or summer, when conditions are more favourable for longer walks through the estate and its surroundings. It's worth combining a visit with a tour of neighbouring parts of Brno, since the district itself today serves mainly a residential and service function.

Frequently asked questions

What is Bohunice? It is a district of Brno in the southwestern part of the city, first mentioned in 1237 and formally incorporated into Brno in 1919.

What happened to the historical buildings of Bohunice? In 1977, it was decided that the old family houses would be demolished to make way for roads, viaducts, trams, and prefabricated apartment blocks built from the 1970s onward.

What survives from old Bohunice? The Chapel of St. Cyril and Methodius from 1871 still stands among the apartment blocks as a reminder of the district's historical village centre.

What is Bohunice best known for today? Primarily for its hospital — one of the largest medical facilities in Moravia and in the whole of the Czech Republic.