Czech Republic Guide
South Moravia
Moravské zemské muzeum
Opening time: Tues– Sat 9am–5pm
Website: www.mzm.cz
To the west of the crypt steps lead up to the Biskupský dvůr, which, along with the neighbouring Dietrichsteinský palác, is home to the Moravské zemské muzeum. Brno is at the centre of quite an extensive area of early human settlement, and the museum contains an impressive collection of prehistoric finds from the region (there are more in the Anthropos annexe, including the famous Venus of Věstonice, plus a large section on the Great Moravian Empire. Opening out to the north of Kapucínské náměstí is Zelný trh (literally "cabbage market"), the chaotic vegetable market on a sloping cobbled square, somewhat ill-served by the mishmash of buildings that line its edges. At its centre is the petrified diarrhoea of the huge (dry) Parnassus fountain by Fischer von Erlach, featuring mythological beasts and Hercules himself.