Spilberk Castle

Spilberk Castle is an old castle fortress situated in Brno on a hilltop in Southern Moravia. It dates back to the 13th century and the Přemyslid dynasty. The royal Castle was completed by King Přemyslid Otakar of Bohemia and as the seat of the Moravian military governors in the mid 14th century. During the Austro-Hungarian era the massive structure was turned into a Baroque fortress and was considered one of the most brutal prisons of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was referred to as the Dungeon of the Nations. After 1822 the fortress was made famous by the Italian poet Silvio Pellico, who served eight years of prison time there and wrote Le miei prigioni - My prisons. For over seven centuries Spilberk Castle has overlooked the city of Brno, a reminder of the sometimes-dark history of the past. Today the castle houses the Brno City Museum and is one of the most significant cultural centers in Brno. In 1962 it was certified as a national heritage monument.

Špilberk 1, 662 24 Brno, www.spilberk.cz