Unesco världsarv i Tjeckien - Villa Tugendhat

Villa Tugendhat - design and fascinating history in Brno

If you visit Brno in the Czech Republic, don't miss Villa Tugendhat. But you need to book your visit least 2 months in advance. A limited number of visitors are accepted and the interest is very high. And yes, we understand why! The visit to the villa was definitely one of the highlights in Brno.

Table of contents

A monument to modern architecture

Villa Tugendhat, which is now museumdesigned by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and built in 1929-1930. The villa was home to Greta and Fritz Tugendhat and their three children. The fact that this house was built so early is fascinating and you realise that at that time it was extremely modern.

Villa Tugendhat 1929

It's all about straight lines, simplicity and large, light-filled windows. Every detail is well thought out: the tall doors, the exclusive woods and the "semi-transparent" stone wall in the living room. In fact, the house is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Turism — Before entering Villa Tugendhat, you have to wrap your shoes in plasters

Villa Tugendhat Brno — Large windows and lots of light

Brno Tjeckien — Here, by the wall of light, Greta liked to sit...

Design Villa Tugendhat — Hypermodern 1930s bathroom

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Exciting technical solutions

It is not only the design that impresses, but also all the technical solutions. The large windows facing the garden can be raised and lowered at the touch of a button. Food is sent between floors by a food lift and stored in a Bosch refrigerator.

Ventilation in villa tugendhat

Ventilation and heating are controlled by simple but ingenious systems and are effectively concealed in the walls and floors. It's almost unbelievable that this, which feels so modern in many ways, was built over 85 years ago!

Pannrum — The boiler room is large and clinically clean

Dramatic history in Villa Tugendhat

However, the strongest feeling is about the history of the house. Greta and Fritz Tugendhat were Jewish, and as the Jew-hatred of the Second World War loomed, they were forced to flee headlong and leave their life's work behind. The family fled first to Switzerland and then to Venezuela. They eventually moved back to Switzerland, but never returned to the Czech Republic.

World War II in Villa Tugendhat

So what happened to Villa Tugendhat? Well, the Gestapo took over ... The villa was used for everything from storage to a children's gymnasium, and one of the walls of exclusive wood ended up as panelling in a school canteen. In 1992, the agreement that dissolved Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia was signed here. And now the house is a museum. We are so happy that we have been able to experience this!

Tjeckoslovakien — At this table the decision was made to divide Czechoslovakia into two countries. In the background is the exclusive wood panelling that for some time was lost in a school canteen ...

READ MORE: What to do in Prague - 30 tips for sights and experiences

Helena

20 July 2016 6:00

Czech Republic

design, history, Motorhome trip Czech Republic, attraction, UNESCO heritage

Helena

Administrator

25 Comments

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Lennart says:

Interesting!

20 July 2016 - 6:58

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Eva - People in the Street says:

Wow! What a house! Incredibly delicious 🙂

20 July 2016 - 8:51

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Jenn - forever abroad says:

So powerful house anyway - with the design and the whole story! Understand that it was a cool visit! Cool plastering machine too, they should have one in all those countries where people keep their shoes on indoors 😉.

20 July 2016 - 8:57

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Veiken says:

It almost looks as if Simon Spies had been at work with a drawing pen. Really a lovely house, but the story fascinates me the most!

20 July 2016 - 9:19

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Ama de casa says:

Thankfully, it was saved in the end.

I'm probably most impressed by those shoe wrappers - I've never seen them. Just the classic shoe covers in chic, blue plastic with elastic 🙂.

20 July 2016 - 9:29

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Ama de casa says:

But I rarely have two months' notice... Except when it comes to the annual ski trip. It's already booked, even though it doesn't start until March... When we do go, we usually forget where we're going. Haha! 🙂

20 July 2016 - 9:30

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Role o Carina says:

An exciting house to see of course!

Take care....

20 July 2016 - 9:47

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Lennart, this was really an interesting visit 🙂 .

Eva, we thought so too!

Jenn, haha, yes that would be something! 😉

Veiken, really? I don't know about Spies, but you're always learning! Yes, the architecture is fascinating, but I also find the history and human stories interesting.

Ama de casa, maybe they should start with these wrapping machines at the dentist in Sweden, hehe ...? 😉 For me, it is also difficult to plan 2 months in advance when I am travelling somewhere, but in this case it is good if you can. (If you are only 1-2 people, you can probably get in touch late as well and see if you are lucky, if someone cancels or something).

Rolle and Carina, indeed! And you too!

20 July 2016 - 9:55

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Lena & Jan says:

Very interesting history and the appearance of the house itself ? Thinking about houses in Skåne that actually look like this but have a totally different history. What a disaster to have to leave your life's house project under such circumstances?
We have been in Brno with completely different intentions, motocross championship, the son had great success there ?

20 July 2016 - 10:25

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Solan says:

What a cool design 🙂 Didn't think of the shoe wrapping machine! Lovely word...

20 July 2016 - 10:37

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Motorhome Helge says:

Fantastic house, what architecture! The bathroom of course but think that at Tjolöholm Castle in Halland there is an absolutely superb shower that almost envelops the body and this house I think was built around the 1800/1900s.

Travelling is experiencing! Wonderful to find new sights!

20 July 2016 - 11:02

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Katta - Bucketlife says:

So cool and sad. And what an impressive technique.

20 July 2016 - 11:24

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biggeros says:

Very nice to see this!!! Imagine that the family was so far ahead in their interest in modern building style and interior. Sad though that they had to flee from their home???

20 July 2016 - 12:34

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Only British says:

Oh so exciting! I want to go there.

20 July 2016 - 13:34

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Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:

Imagine that something like this was built so long ago! And when the house has a history like that, it must be extra interesting to visit it!

20 July 2016 - 15:01

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Lena & Jan, it must have been terrible to have to leave this house! They apparently did it at the last second ... Glad you were in Brno and happy with the successes! 🙂

Solan, haha, I'm not sure if that word exists... But sometimes you have to invent new words 😉.

The motorhome Helge, wow, that sounds like an awesome shower! 😉 Impressive sometimes to see what they could achieve in the past!

Katta, yes indeed!

Biggeros, they really had modern thinking when it came to light and lighting among other things. Fascinating!

Just British, highly recommended!

Marianne, the story really makes the house even more interesting!

20 July 2016 - 15:29

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Anna, Travel on a Cloud says:

Oh, so cool! I would have loved to visit that house. I love special architecture and especially when there are extra dimensions in terms of technical solutions and an exciting history. It must also have been a special feeling to be in the very place where the contract was signed.

20 July 2016 - 15:30

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BP says:

Let's just say that this architect was really ahead of his time. Nice that the villa is now a museum, very tragic background though. Understand that you were happy to get a guided tour of the beautiful surroundings.

20 July 2016 - 17:13

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Anna, we were really excited about this visit. Really interesting in many ways!

BP, yes it really felt like he was ahead of his time! Many nasty things have happened in Europe and are still happening ...

20 July 2016 - 18:17

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Comsi Comsa says:

Wow what a house and history.

Hugs ❤

20 July 2016 - 20:15

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Snows says:

Wow, that was a really interesting villa worth visiting! But a bit of a shame that you need to book so long before. But at least now we know 😀.

20 July 2016 - 20:41

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Matts Torebring says:

I understand if you want to "change jobs", so much that you have to deal with all the time. Interesting to see.

20 July 2016 - 21:26

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Ditte says:

What an interesting and horrible story! And an incredibly exciting house! Fascinating design and solutions to most things, so this family must have really been pioneers in terms of design.
Understand that it was an experience to come here.

20 July 2016 - 21:42

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Goatfish says:

This was a great thing to come up with! It just breathes history! 😀
That's the kind of thing they like. And it just goes to show that the wheel is reinvented again and again. People have always been amazing.
This journey will enrich you for a long time <3

20 July 2016 - 21:48

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Comsi Comsa, indeed! We were surprised how interesting this visit was!

Znogge, yes, it does make it a bit more difficult that you have to book far in advance. It's a popular place, and it doesn't take just any number of people at a time ...

Matts Torebring, yes this "job" is great fun! The challenge is how to bring in an income ... 😉 .

Ditte, the family and the designer must have really been ahead of their time!

Geddfish, I think the same thing when I see things like this and even older things, wow how creative and smart people have been over the years! 😉

22 July 2016 - 14:22

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Villa Tugendhat - design and fascinating history in Brno

A monument to modern architecture

Villa Tugendhat 1929

Exciting technical solutions

Ventilation in villa tugendhat

Dramatic history in Villa Tugendhat

World War II in Villa Tugendhat

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25 Comments

Lennart says:

Eva - People in the Street says:

Jenn - forever abroad says:

Veiken says:

Ama de casa says:

Ama de casa says:

Role o Carina says:

admin says:

Lena & Jan says:

Solan says:

Motorhome Helge says:

Katta - Bucketlife says:

biggeros says:

Only British says:

Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:

admin says:

Anna, Travel on a Cloud says:

BP says:

admin says:

Comsi Comsa says:

Snows says:

Matts Torebring says:

Ditte says:

Goatfish says:

admin says:

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