Moravian Museum in Brno

The second-largest museum in the Czech Republic is located in Brno. You might not realise it at first when looking at Dietrichstein Palace, despite its prominent and distinctive location. You have to look twice to discover that this building is home to more than six million exhibits telling the story of the Czech Republic. The Moravian Museum in Brno is also a centre for archaeology, botany, anthropology, mineralogy, theatre studies, genetics and palaeontology, and showcases many other fascinating aspects of Czech history.

One of the oldest exhibits at the Moravian Museum is something of a sensation. The figure is just 11.5 cm tall: a clay statuette that, at 30,000 years old, is probably the oldest exhibit in the entire Czech Republic. This find came from South Moravia. Discovered in 1925, it sparked an irresistible interest in many new archaeological sites, which still inspire a spirit of adventure in scientists, amateur archaeologists and shamanic travellers exploring South Moravia. South Moravia is therefore not only an interesting holiday destination with many hotels and holiday apartments in South Moravia in the Czech Republic, but also the site of many fascinating relics from ancient times. Today, these are part of what makes a city break in Brno so appealing. The journey through time offered by the objects discovered there—including bones, pottery, weapons, jewellery and, as mentioned, shamans’ tools found at ritual sites or graves—leads back in South Moravia and at the Moravian Museum in Brno to the oldest realm of the West Slavs: the ninth-century Great Moravian Empire, known as Moravia Magna.


The Moravian Museum is not only the Czech Republic’s second-largest history museum, but also its second-oldest museum institution. Its founding dates back to 1817, when Emperor Francis I issued a decree establishing the museum. Following extensive renovations, the Moravian Museum reopened in 2006 with new visions and technologies designed to make Czech history accessible, engaging and educational. Today, the Moravian Museum is a wonderful destination in Brno whatever the weather. Through changing exhibitions, lectures, multimedia shows, educational trails and guided excursions, it also brings Moravian history to life in a vivid and unforgettable way. The Moravian Museum is not only an exhibition centre, but also a research institute whose aim is not merely to learn, but to teach as well. Using technology, new projects and publications, the museum shares its knowledge with everyone who wants to gain it—or who is simply curious to follow the traces of history.