Café Kaprál Residence

The Café Kaprál Residence literary salon   celebrated its official public inauguration on 22 September 2022, two years after the passing of the Brno poet Zeno Kaprál. Since then, Zeno Kaprál’s (1941–2020) uniquely preserved flat of has established itself firmly on Brno’s cultural scene as a venue for literary gatherings, readings, discussions, book launches, performances, theatre productions, and other events. 

The building at Údolní 17 was built in 1880 by Charlotte Kallab. In 1917, ownership passed to Josef Schwarz, who retained it until 1930, when it was purchased by Julius and Klára Redlich. It was under their ownership that the building and its residential flat underwent significant modifications. The flat itself was spacious, featuring a grand entrance hall, two reception salons, a large dining room with a winter garden, and bedrooms overlooking a garden with views of Špilberk Castle. 

After the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, the Redlichs’ flat was seized by the Nazis and the family itself was deported to their deaths, and the property was leased to the Biochema Brno firm, later known as Fruta. At that time, the company was managed by the engineer Aleš Kaprál, Zeno Kaprál’s uncle.

The section of the flat later occupied by Zeno Kaprál and his family served originally as formal reception rooms, while another part, now closed to the public, was used as a private residence by Aleš Kaprál. He furnished the rooms with pieces such as a set of furniture from the château in Letovice. Following his emigration in 1948, the house on Údolní was divided into multiple residential units, including what is now the publicly accessible Café Kaprál Residence. 

Residence Café Kaprál is currently managed by TIC Brno, and admission to all events (except those hosted by external institutions) is free of charge. The programme is divided into two seasonal blocks: spring (April–June) and autumn (September–November).