Spilberk Castle looms above Brno in a most impressive way. It has been a residence, fortress, prison and now tourist attraction. It has done all of these tasks well. The walk up to the castle entrance can be strenuous. The surrounding park is impressive and there are great views of the city from the castle.

We spent most of one day there in December 2005. Being the off season it was little attended and easy to get around. There was a major exhibition of city history there when we visited. All the rooms used were well fitted and information was available in many languages. We viewed a good bit of the castle during our visit and were impressed with how well it was maintained and the ease of access. We spoke to one guide who was very well informed and made the history of the casemates come alive. Known as the "dungeon of the nations" it must have been hell on earth for those imprisoned there.

The admission price in December 2005 was under 5 euro (110 Kc) and well worth it. One real gem in the castle is the Restaurant club Ogilvy. We stopped for a coffee and ordered what turned out to be a magnificent desert crepe. Fruit filled and topped with ice cream it was a really pleasant surprise.

Spilberk Castle is a major attraction listed in all the guide books. We found it well worth the walk to the top. It is a "must see" for history buffs.