Capuchin Crypt in Brno

Capuchin Crypt in Brno tickets: which one to buy

The Capuchin Crypt lies beneath the Church of the Holy Cross of the Capuchin monastery on the Kapucínské náměstí, a small square in the centre of Brno, the second city of the Czech Republic, a few minutes' walk from the main railway station and the Cabbage Market, and a ticket is required. It is one of the most unusual sights in Central Europe: a crypt where the naturally mummified bodies of Capuchin friars and benefactors are displayed. The visit is short and self-guided, with information panels and an audio guide in several languages, and it can be unsettling for some people, so parents should consider whether it is suitable for young children.

Visitors should be respectful, and photography is not allowed. Brno is about two and a half hours from Prague and an hour and a half from Vienna by train. Visitors often combine the crypt with the Cabbage Market and its underground labyrinth, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul on Petrov hill, the Špilberk Castle, the Old Town Hall with its dragon and crooked pinnacle, and the Villa Tugendhat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by Mies van der Rohe. The ossuary under the Church of Saint James is another underground site nearby.

Visiting Capuchin Crypt in Brno: what to see

The Capuchins came to Brno in the early seventeenth century, and their church and monastery were built in the middle of the century, with the crypt beneath the church used as a burial place for the friars and for benefactors of the order. The friars were buried without coffins, lying on the floor with a brick under their heads, and a system of air vents ventilating the crypt, combined with the dry soil, caused the bodies to dry out and mummify naturally. Burials in the crypt ended in the late eighteenth century under the reforms of Emperor Joseph II.

Today, the remains of several dozen friars are displayed in the crypt's vaulted chambers, still dressed in their brown habits, some holding crucifixes and rosaries, laid out on the ground as they were buried. Other chambers hold the coffins of nobles, artists and benefactors. The most famous person buried here is Baron Franz von der Trenck, the notorious commander of the Pandurs, irregular troops in the Austrian army, who died as a prisoner in the Špilberk fortress in 1749; his body lies in a glass-topped coffin. At the entrance to the crypt, an inscription reminds visitors of mortality with words addressed from the dead to the living. The church above has a baroque interior and paintings.

Capuchin Crypt in Brno opening hours and the best time to go

The crypt is open daily except Sunday mornings, with shorter hours in winter and closures during some religious holidays, so check before visiting. It is small, and it can feel crowded when groups arrive, so early mornings on weekdays are the quietest. The crypt is cool all year, which makes it pleasant in summer. Brno is lively in spring and autumn, and the Ignis Brunensis fireworks festival lights up the city in late spring. Allow about half an hour for the crypt, and continue to the Cabbage Market.