Špilberk Park

Špilberk Park is a roughly 17-hectare hillside park wrapped around Špilberk Castle and fortress in the historic heart of Brno. Together with the castle it forms a protected national cultural monument, and locals treat it as a favourite spot for walking, jogging and simply enjoying views over the old town rooftops.

When was the park created and who designed it?

The park was laid out between 1861 and 1862 on the initiative of the then-mayor of Brno, Christian d'Elvert. For centuries before that, Špilberk hill served a defensive purpose, so its upper slopes were deliberately kept bare while the lower slopes carried vineyards and orchards. Only after Brno stopped being a fortress town in 1852 could the rocky summit be turned into a public park. The overall design was drawn up by the city gardener Antonín Šebánek, who supervised the works until his death in 1870.

What style is the park laid out in?

Špilberk was designed as a romantic-style landscape park, the approach typical of 19th-century park design across Central Europe. Its layout is built around a network of walking paths winding between planted trees and shrubs, with a series of viewpoints spread across the hillside. Rather than funnelling visitors along a single straight route, this arrangement lets people discover new perspectives on the castle and the city skyline as they stroll.

What is there to see in the park?

The clear focal point remains the castle and fortress of Špilberk itself, rising at the top of the hill — one of the largest and most recognisable fortifications in Moravia. The park functions as a green setting around the fortress, combining recreational use with the preservation of a historic landscape. Paths run among mature trees, and successive terraces and slopes open up views over central Brno spread out below.

Where exactly is the park located?

The park sits in Brno's historic centre, in the Brno-střed district, on the hill of the same name rising above the old town. Its proximity to the main square and central streets means it is only a short walk away from downtown Brno.

Frequently asked questions

How big is Špilberk Park? It covers roughly 17 hectares on a rocky hill in the centre of Brno.

When was the park founded? Between 1861 and 1862, on the initiative of then-mayor of Brno Christian d'Elvert.

Who designed the layout of the park? The overall design came from city gardener Antonín Šebánek, who oversaw the works until 1870.

Why was the hill bare of vegetation before the park existed? For defensive reasons — while Brno remained a fortress town (until 1852), the upper slopes had to stay open, and only the lower slopes were planted with vineyards and orchards.

What else is in the park besides greenery? Špilberk Castle and fortress stands at the top of the hill, with the whole park spreading around it and offering numerous viewpoints over the city.