Špilberk Castle

Špilberk sits on a hill above the historic centre of Brno, and few buildings in the city have changed roles as many times — royal seat, fortress, notorious prison, and now a city museum. The castle's silhouette dominates views across Brno, and its underground casemates are among the most visited attractions in the region.

Who built the castle on Brno's hill?

Construction on the hilltop above the Svratka river began in the first half of the 13th century under the Přemyslid kings and was completed under King Ottokar II of Bohemia. The site was chosen for its commanding position over the city below, which let the ruling dynasty both defend and oversee Brno. As fortification methods evolved, the castle's role shifted: when Brno itself was rebuilt into a fortified city in the 17th century, Špilberk was folded into that defensive system and turned into a full-scale fortress.

How did Špilberk become one of Europe's harshest prisons?

The turning point came in 1783, when Emperor Joseph II ordered the fortress converted into a prison — first for serious criminals, then increasingly for political prisoners transferred there from across the Habsburg monarchy. The underground casemates, originally built for military purposes in the 18th century under fortification engineer Colonel Rochepin, were repurposed into cells known for brutal conditions. That reputation is the reason Špilberk is still remembered today as one of the toughest prisons in Europe of its era.

Which prisoners passed through its cells?

Špilberk's cells held Italian Carbonari revolutionaries, Polish insurgents from the 1830 uprising, Hungarian activists from the revolutionary movements of the 1840s, and Czech nationalist intellectuals. Its best-known inmate was the Italian poet Silvio Pellico, held here between 1822 and 1830. After his release he wrote "Le mie prigioni" ("My Prisons"), a memoir that became widely read across Europe and turned Špilberk into an international byword for harsh imprisonment, damaging the Habsburg monarchy's reputation abroad. The Czech outlaw Václav Babinský was also held here, a name still recognisable in Czech folklore.

What happens at Špilberk today?

After 1855 the complex mainly served as an army barracks, though it reverted to use as a prison during both world wars — Czech patriots were held there under Nazi occupation. The casemates were first opened to the public in 1880, thanks to Anton Costa-Rossetti, then head of the city's military construction office. Today the castle houses the Museum of the City of Brno, with permanent and temporary exhibitions covering the castle's own history, the story of Brno, and the wider heritage of Moravia. Following a major renovation carried out in 2025–2026, the north wing reopened with a new exhibition on the wartime casemates of the early Second World War.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside the underground casemates? Yes — the casemates are one of the museum's main draws, showing the former prison cells and the conditions inmates were held in.

How much time should I plan for a visit? A full visit covering the castle grounds, exhibitions, and casemates typically takes around one and a half to two hours, depending on which routes you choose.

Is Špilberk a ruin or a working museum? It's a fully functioning museum complex — the buildings are well preserved, and the interiors have been adapted for both permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Why does the castle offer such good views over Brno? The hill was chosen precisely for its strategic overlook of the city, and that same vantage point is now one of the main reasons visitors climb up to the castle grounds.