Park Anthropos

Park Anthropos is a green recreational area in Brno's Pisárky district, stretched along a valley formed by the Svratka river. The park forms part of a natural corridor linking the Holedná forest park with the slopes of Červený kopec, and its story goes back to the late 19th century, when a former floodplain forest was reshaped for public use.

What role has the park played over the years?

For much of the 20th century the site served as a gathering place for public events – during the communist era it hosted large demonstrations, and in the 1950s an obelisk was erected there to mark this role. The park's best-known feature, however, is the Anthropos Pavilion, whose origins reach back to the interwar period.

Where does the name "Anthropos" come from?

In 1928, archaeologist Karel Absolon presented findings on the earliest stages of human development at an exhibition called "Anthropos," staged as part of the wider Exhibition of Contemporary Culture. The display did not survive the Second World War. Afterward, Jan Jelínek, director of the Moravian Museum, pushed to revive the concept, and in 1962 the Anthropos Pavilion was completed, bringing the exhibition on human prehistory back to the public. The building went through a thorough reconstruction and modernization between 2003 and 2006.

What can visitors see inside the Anthropos Pavilion?

For decades the star exhibit has been a life-size reconstruction of a woolly mammoth, recently joined by a mammoth calf. In 2024, the Anthropos Pavilion became the first institution in Brno to offer a permanent exhibition accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors through a video guide.

What is there to do in the park itself?

Today the park functions as a popular spot for locals to unwind. A green hiking trail and a cycling path run through it, benches are scattered along the way, and a modern playground with a prehistoric theme gives younger visitors something to do that ties in neatly with the neighboring pavilion.

How do you get to the park?

Park Anthropos lies on the edge of the Pisárky district, in the Svratka valley, within easy reach of central Brno. Its coordinates are 49.1924172, 16.5664689.

Frequently asked questions

Is Park Anthropos the same as the Anthropos Pavilion? No – the park is the green area in Pisárky, while the Anthropos Pavilion is the specific museum building within it, dedicated to the history of early humans.

Can you cycle through the park? Yes, a dedicated cycling path runs through the park alongside the green hiking trail.

What is the main attraction inside the Anthropos Pavilion? A life-size reconstruction of a woolly mammoth together with a mammoth calf, the exhibition's signature display for decades.

Is the park suitable for children? Yes, it includes a playground with a prehistoric theme that echoes the subject of the neighboring pavilion.

When was the Anthropos Pavilion built? Construction was completed in 1962, though the exhibition's roots go back to a 1928 display organized by Karel Absolon.