Brno

Czechia's second city, Moravia's traditional capital, comes as a surprise. It's a busy industrial and technology city that goes back to medieval times and bears the marks of culture throughout its old town. Its historic castle, Hrad Špilberk, and its Gothic cathedral, Katedrála svatých Petra a Pavla, are the chief landmarks on its hilly contours. But there is much more between. 

Brno's town hall, Stará radnice, has an unusual portal by the controversial 15th century sculptor Anton Pilgram below a tower that rises more than 60 metres from the street. Suspended in the vault below is a sculpted copy of fabled dragon that looks to most visitors like a crocodile. There is a different, more believable story behind its origin. 

Kašna Parnas, the unconventional late 17th century fountain on the old city marketplace Zelný trh, depicts the Greek myth of Parnassus, which suits the hillside location. A grotto network is below the market. On more classical lines is the Calvary Crucifixion scene Boží muka in the garden below the cathedral, following the centuries-old wall circuit. 

There are several striking churches in Brno, but three others stand out. The Gothic Kostel svatého Jakuba Staršího would be impressive even without its neighbour, Kostnice u svatého Jakuba, a chilling but fascinating ossuary below where bones from the former cemetery have been stored and shaped into monuments to the dead. On a similar theme, the Capuchin monastery church Kostel Nalezení svatého Kříže has a crypt with mummified remains. 

The refined beauty of the Baroque Kostel svatého Tomáše stands in contrast to these two. 

Filling in a historical space is the imposing Renaissance facade of the palace Dům pánů z Lipé, with a restored but updated arcaded courtyard.