The two sky-scraping towers of the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, known in Czech as Katedrala sv. Petra a Pavla, are a symbol of the city of Brno. Admire the impressive Gothic exterior and richly decorated Baroque interior of this magnificent sacred structure.
Take a guided city tour to find out more about the history of this Roman Catholic cathedral. The current building was consecrated as a cathedral in 1777. It sits on the site of an earlier and much smaller Romanesque basilica that is thought to have dated back to the 11th or 12th centuries.
Time your visit so you’re at the cathedral at 11 a.m. This is when the bells of the cathedral tower ring. According to local legend, the reason for this goes back to the 17th-century Thirty Years’ War when the Swedish army was attacking Brno. After a lengthy siege, the Swedish agreed to retreat if they had failed to conquer the city by noon. To fool them into abandoning their efforts an hour earlier, Field Marshal Jean-Louis Raduit de Souches ordered that the bells be rung at 11 a.m. To this day, the bells of the cathedral are heard ringing at 11 a.m. rather than at noon.
From the outside, inspect the gray stone cathedral exterior. The most notable features are the twin towers, which soar up into the sky. Several statues can also be seen on the exterior, including one of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns.
Venture inside to survey the Baroque interior. Of particular note is the Kapistránka pulpit, which was named after Franciscan priest St. John of Capistrano who came to Bruno to preach in 1451. Examine the detailed and vivid stained-glass windows, as well as religious-themed paintings and statues.
Find the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul on top of Petrov Hill in the center of Brno. Because of its elevated and prominent position, it is difficult to miss. The cathedral is open daily from morning until evening.
