Gate of the Old Town Hall: Brno's Crooked Spire & Dragon
Beneath the famous Gothic portal of the Old Town Hall, a famously twisted stone pinnacle serves as a striking introduction to the civic heart of medieval Brno. Dating back to around 1240, the structure on Radnická Street is the city's oldest secular building. It functioned as the seat of the municipal government from 1373 until 1935 and was officially designated a Czech National Cultural Monument in 2024.
Anton Pilgram's Gothic Portal
In 1510 and 1511, master mason and sculptor Anton Pilgram crafted the building's late-Gothic entrance. The stone portal features five delicate pinnacles, with the central turret slanting abruptly sideways directly above a statue of Lady Justice. Local tradition claims that the city council refused to pay Pilgram his agreed wages. In retaliation, he instructed his stonemasons to curve the main spire, declaring it would remain crooked as an enduring emblem of the council's corruption.
The Legend of the Brno Dragon
Suspended from wooden beams inside the vaulted stone passageway is the famed "Brno Dragon," which is in reality a taxidermied female Nile crocodile measuring roughly five metres in length. According to a popular myth, the beast terrorized the region until a clever butcher tricked it into eating an animal hide filled with quicklime. The monster then drank from the Svratka River until the reacting lime burst its stomach.
While historical accounts often attribute the crocodile to a 1608 diplomatic gift from Archduke Matthias, municipal financial ledgers reveal the specimen was present much earlier. Archives from 1568, 1578, and 1579 document civic funds allocated to painters for restoring, repainting, and explicitly "deworming" the preserved reptile. Modern biologists note that the heavily restored skin has been reinforced with a plaster cast and metal supports over the centuries.
Exploring the Historic Town Hall
Today, the Old Town Hall forms an essential connector on the pedestrian route between Freedom Square (Náměstí Svobody) and the Vegetable Market (Zelný trh). Managed by the municipal agency TIC BRNO, the ground floor houses the city's principal Tourist Information Centre.
The building features several historical spaces, including the Fresco Hall, Crystal Hall, Ernův Hall, and the historic Treasury. The first floor hosts a permanent exhibition dedicated to Anton Pilgram alongside a display titled Quiet Heroism. For panoramic views across Brno's historic centre, the 63-metre-high lookout tower is open year-round and accessible by climbing 173 steps. The Renaissance arcaded courtyard also serves as a vibrant cultural venue, hosting concerts, theatrical performances, exhibitions, and seasonal markets.
FAQ
Why is the pinnacle on the Old Town Hall crooked?
Master mason Anton Pilgram crafted the deliberately twisted central spire in 1510–1511. According to local tradition, he curved the pinnacle after the city council refused to pay his agreed wages, leaving it as a symbol of their corruption.
What kind of animal is the Brno Dragon?
The "Brno Dragon" is actually a taxidermied female Nile crocodile. Measuring roughly five metres in length, it has hung in the passageway of the Old Town Hall for centuries.
What is inside the Old Town Hall in Brno?
The building houses the city's Tourist Information Centre, historical ceremonial rooms like the Fresco and Crystal Halls, exhibitions on Anton Pilgram, and a 63-metre-high lookout tower accessible via 173 steps.
