Tyršův sad

Tyršův sad is a compact but distinctive park in Brno's Veveří district, tucked between the streets of Botanická, Smetanova, Kounicova, and Sokolská. It covers only 1.7 hectares, yet the ground beneath it holds far more history than its modest size suggests — this used to be a cemetery, not a park designed from scratch for strolling.

Where the name comes from and how the park was created

The site became a municipal cemetery in 1785 — the first Brno cemetery established outside the city limits after Emperor Joseph II banned burials within built-up areas. It served the city for nearly a century, until a new and much larger cemetery opened south of Brno in 1883, gradually replacing the old burial ground's original purpose. Between 1908 and 1912, the site was converted into a park at what is now the intersection of Botanická and Smetanova streets. It received the name Tyršův sad during the First Czechoslovak Republic, referencing both the neighboring Sokol complex on Kounicova street and Miroslav Tyrš, the founder of the Sokol movement.

What you'll find in the park today

Today the park works as a quiet green pocket right in the city center, known for its varied planting of flowers and rare ornamental trees. It includes a rose garden, a children's playground, structures covered with climbing plants, and a large decorative flower bed. One particularly thoughtful feature is a dedicated sensory garden bed for blind and visually impaired visitors, where plants can be identified by touch and scent. Tyršův sad also stands out as the only park in Brno to have kept its original fencing — an easy-to-miss detail that gives the place a genuinely historic feel.

A trace of the old cemetery

Little about the park today points to its past as a burial ground, but a cast-iron cross bearing a gilded figure of Christ, dating from 1846, still stands in the park's central section. It's one of the few surviving reminders of the cemetery that once occupied this ground, and a quiet marker of a history that predates the park itself by well over a century. The park is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, underlining its significance to the city's landscape heritage.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Tyršův sad located? In Brno's Veveří district, in the area bounded by Botanická, Smetanova, Kounicova, and Sokolská streets, close to the city center.

Is there anything for children in the park? Yes, the park includes a children's playground.

Where does the park's name come from? It honors Miroslav Tyrš, founder of the Sokol movement, and references the nearby Sokol complex on Kounicova street.

Was the park once a cemetery? Yes, a municipal cemetery occupied the site from 1785 to 1883. After it closed, the ground was turned into a park between 1908 and 1912, and a cast-iron cross from 1846 remains as a reminder of that earlier use.

Is it a good spot for a quiet walk? Definitely — its small size, greenery, and flower beds make it a pleasant place to slow down for a while, even though it sits close to the heart of Brno.