Grandhotel Brno

A historic hotel in the city centre with a 150-year tradition, Grandhotel Brno holds a special place as the venue for the first cinematic screening in what is now the Czech Republic. 

The idea of building the hotel was conceived in 1869. A year later, Hotel Werner was completed, featuring seventy rooms and named after its founder, Josef Werner. Later, the hotel’s management was taken over by Werner’s son-in-law, František Ritter von Feldbinger, who, in 1895, renamed it the Grand Hotel. The hotel became a part of Brno’s history in 1896 when it hosted a cinematic performance in the Moorish Hall, just seven months after the world’s first cinematic screening. 

In 1900, the hotel was expanded based on a design by the architect Hubert Gessner. The façade of the extension was decorated with a fresco in the attic area, depicting the Judgment of Paris, created by an anonymous artist.

During the 1930s, the architect Jindřich Kumpošt oversaw a renovation that simplified both the interiors and the façade. Unfortunately, major changes were made during the 1986-88 reconstruction, which included roofing over the former garden restaurant with its atrium and extensive alterations to the interior. Much of the Art Nouveau decoration was removed. Despite these changes, the hotel has maintained its high standards and continues to offer first-class service to this day. 

Since its inception, Grandhotel Brno has been synonymous with excellence in hospitality. Over the years, it has hosted such distinguished figures as Emperor Franz Joseph I, Thomas Edison, Michael Schumacher, and many others.