Start an adventure with the Jellyfish Head series in Brno and its surroundings

The eight-part detective series begins with a mysterious crime – the disappearance of a painting by Peter Paul Rubens entitled “Medusa’s Head”. Director Filip Renč decided to use the image of Medusa as a symbol for these crime plots – each poisonous snake that is placed in Medusa’s head represents one story, one crime, one evil.

The eight episodes were written by screenwriter Petr Hudský and will transport you to Brno and its wide surroundings. In the series you will meet various places such as the Pražák Palace of the Moravian Gallery in Brno, the Bohunice University Hospital, the Typos passage, the Maximus resort, the Brno Detention Centre, the Brno Stone Colony, the Žabárník pond in Sokolnice, Kunštát Castle, Borkovany, the Western town of Boskovice, Račice Castle, Bořetice, Valtice and many other interesting locations. The four-member group of criminologists is led by the precise and purposeful Karin, portrayed by Jitka Čvančarová. Among other actors you will meet Jiří Dvořák, Michal Isteník and Petra Bučková.

Pražák Palace – Moravian Gallery

The Pražák Palace, designed by architect Theophilus von Hansen, who also created the neighbouring Besední dům, was originally intended as an elegant tenement house for the important Moravian politician Alois Pražák. Visitors can admire short-term exhibition projects here, as well as permanent exhibitions, a sculpture park with a coffee zone, a children’s playroom, an open depository, and a gallery library and bookstore. The Moravian Gallery has been looking after the building since 1985 and five years later it was renovated to make it suitable for gallery activities.

Stone Colony

The area known as Kamenná Kolonie, also called Kamenná čtvrt’ or Kamenka, is a unique settlement in the city of Brno – střed. It consists of approximately 130 historic small houses that together form a closed community that began to emerge in a disorganized manner around 1925. Life there seems to have stopped in time… This settlement is one of the best preserved original workers’ colonies in Brno and is located in the area of an old gravel quarry on the northwestern slope of Červený Hill, near the Svratka River and the Brno Exhibition Centre. Here you will find small houses that seem to have been randomly built right next to each other, narrow streets and picturesque corners. Moreover, from the high point of the quarry you have a wonderful view of the South Moravian city and its surroundings.

Bohunice University Hospital

The foundation of today’s hospital was the building of the hospital, the design of which was created by ing. oskar Pořízka and was opened in 1934. During the Second World War, the premises were used as a reserve military infirmary. After the war, the capacity of hospitals in Brno was completely insufficient, and therefore a plan was made to build a new facility. However, it took several years before this happened. The construction of the central part of the Bohunice complex was started in 1969 by architect Miroslav Spurný. Pavilion L, which dominates the whole complex, was not opened until the end of 1989. Three years later, the central operating theatres, which became the largest in Moravia, were opened. In 1999, the hospital was expanded to include a new Clinic of Oral, Maxillofacial and Facial Surgery.

Typos Passage near Jakub Square

The building that formerly housed the Brno studio of Czech Television was built between 1927-1931 and also served the Brno Printing Company for more than 60 years. Since 1993, it has housed a business centre that includes residential and office space, as well as the shopping arcade itself. The adjacent park is a pleasant place to relax with ample greenery and water features. In addition, there are restaurants, a newsagent, a watchmaker, a betting office, fashion shops and, for those who like nightlife, a renowned disco.

Maximus resort near Brno dam

Hotel Maximus Resort is located in the middle of the beautiful nature of the Brno Dam and only 15 minutes from the centre of Brno. It offers quality accommodation in a four-star standard tuned according to the rules of Feng-shui and experiential gastronomy in the hotel restaurant Portum. In addition, you can enjoy a range of sports activities such as tennis courts, bowling, fitness and wellness and spa center Infinit Maximus. In the water and sauna area, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a pool with water features, a whirlpool, five different types of saunas, including an outdoor one, and a wide selection of private baths, massages and spa rituals.

Detention prison Brno Bohunice

Brno-B Bohunice Prison was built in 1956 and falls into the category of “middle-aged” compared to the oldest prisons still operating in the Czech Republic, such as Valdice (1857) and Mírov (1858). This detention centre provides custody for male, female and juvenile defendants. Convicts who have been placed in a secure prison serve their prison sentences in Brno. In addition, the Detention Prison and the Institute for the Execution of Security Detention in Brno can also provide capacity for temporarily placed convicts (e.g. for boarding, escorts to other courts, etc.). In 1997, a prison hospital was opened on the prison premises, which specialises (internally in infectious, intermediate care and aftercare units) and also has a psychiatric pavilion. The total capacity of the Brno Prison is 678 places and the equipment is 4m2 per 1 individual.

Pond Žabárník in Sokolnica

The Žabárník Natural Monument is a beautiful area of forest and a water reservoir located in the floodplain of the Dunávka stream. The pond is located northwest of the village of Sokolnice and is surrounded by rich coastal vegetation and reeds. A strip of floodplain forest stretches below the dam and to the north of the reservoir. The site is home to a large number of wetland bird and amphibian species, such as the meadow pipit, collared damselfly, common nightingale, meadow pipit and the gnatcatcher. This extended site covers an area of 11.67 ha and was declared a natural monument in 1990. The pond is accessed by a road from the village of Sokolnice or by an asphalt road that disconnects from road 380.

Kunštát Castle

This castle, which is one of the oldest Moravian castles and dates back to the mid-13th century, is connected with the family of the Lords of Kunštát. The current appearance of the castle is the result of reconstructions that took place in the middle of the 16th century and also between 1678 and 1680. The castle boasts inlaid parquet floors, which are considered to be the oldest in Central Europe. Guides are only allowed to walk on them in slippers. During the tours, you can visit the representative rooms of the south count’s wing with preserved furnishings, the Knights’ Hall, and the extensive Flower Garden with its gazebo and pool with a nymph statue. In close proximity to the castle is the dog cemetery, which is the oldest of its kind in Europe.

Borkovany

The picturesque village of Borkovany is located in one of the valleys of the Dyje-Svratec valley, surrounded by several hills that rise up to 350 m above sea level. An integral part of the surrounding landscape is the Borkovany “Líchy” forest, the last fragment of the Ždánický Forest. This area is ideal for growing grapes. Historically, the vineyards occupied almost 42% of the cultivated area and part of them was owned by Brno townsmen. The wine of the area is still of excellent quality today, which is confirmed by the winemakers at the local wine exhibition held on St Joseph’s Day, which takes place every two years in March in even-numbered years. The symbol of winemaking and Easter eggs is enshrined in the municipal coat of arms and flag.

Western town Boskovice

Only 36 km north of Brno is one of the most visited places in South Moravia – the unique Western town of Boskovice. This town was built in an abandoned sandstone quarry and its foundation dates back to 1994. Since then, more than a million people have visited the town. The authentic Wild West environment completely absorbs visitors of all ages. It is open during the summer holidays. The all-day program offers plenty of great entertainment not only for families with children, but also for all those who want to enjoy a pleasant romantic holiday. There are plenty of hidden corners in the town where there are attractions for both children and adults.

Castle Račice near Vyškov

Račice Chateau has been an important landmark of the Vyškov region for many centuries. However, its premises have never been open to the public, which changed in the summer of 2020. Since the chateau was gradually used by the General Staff of the Czechoslovak Army, OP Prostějov and for a primary school, vocational school and children’s home since 1938, do not expect the traditional museum exhibition of paintings and furnishings, as is customary in state castles. Instead, you can look forward to a mix of old and new, summarising all the pros and cons of the castle’s use over the past nine decades.

Bořetice

The wine-growing village of Bořetice is located in the middle of the picturesque Blue Mountains and the Hustopeč Microregion. It lies in a slightly undulating landscape at the foot of Ždánický Forest. The Trkmanka stream, locally known as “Svodnica”, flows through it. A well-known locality is Kraví hory, where the slope rises above a number of wine cellars and fertile vineyards. The Zázmoníky Nature Reserve is also very well known and is home to rare plant species such as the Austrian beehive and other protected species. Among the dry-loving insects, you can also see the praying mantis. The site was acquired as part of the “A Place for Nature” campaign of the Czech Union of Nature Conservationists to care for its natural and landscape value. In the past, the area was used as vineyards and orchards.

Valtice

Valtice is known as the capital of wine – and when you’re here, you’ll understand that this is definitely not an exaggerated advertisement. In addition to the Wine Salon, several wine shops and wine bars, you will also find a wine museum and a high school dedicated to winemaking. You can explore the interesting underground and take a walk along the wine trail. And if wine isn’t your only activity, be sure to visit the herb garden in the Valtice Chateau Gardens or take a tour of the Iron Curtain Museum, which focuses on border security. Valtice is dominated by the Baroque chateau with its chapel and the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which served the Liechtenstein family as their “family home”. There are 21 rooms in the castle and you will also find an exhibition about the princely family, newly renovated halls and the castle theatre.