Brno's spooky hilltop castle is considered the city's most important landmark. Its history stretches back to the 13th century, when it was home to Moravian margraves and later a fortress. Under the Habsburgs in the 18th and 19th centuries, it served as a prison. Today it's home to the Brno City Museum, with several temporary and permanent exhibitions.
Top exhibitions include the Prison of Nations with the dungeon and torture exhibits; the eight-part, artifact-packed Brno on Špilberk timeline from medieval stronghold to the Capital of Moravia; and a preserved 18th-century Baroque Pharmacy setup. Other rooms are chock-full of artworks from Austrian Moravia to the modern day.
The menu of visiting options is confusing at first glance. You can choose to visit the exhibitions individually or buy a combined entry ticket to all the sights. The most popular sights are the casements, dating from the 18th century, and the lookout tower.
