The Wheel Travel Guide

The Wheel, prominently displayed within the Old Town Hall (Stará radnice) in Brno, is more than just a historical artifact; it's a symbol of local pride and a reminder of a legendary feat. The Old Town Hall itself dates back to the 13th century and is located near Vegetable Market.The legend of the Brno Wheel tells the story of Georg Birk, a wheel craftsman from Lednice, who made a bet with his friends. He wagered that he could chop down a tree, fashion a wheel from it, and roll it all the way to Brno, a distance of approximately 45 kilometers (28 miles), within a mere 12 hours. The wheel has a diameter of 144 cm.Birk accomplished this seemingly impossible task, though some whispered that he'd received help from the devil. Whether by skill or dark magic, the wheel stands as a symbol of determination and the blurring of the lines between possible and impossible. Today, the wheel hangs in the Old Town Hall as a reminder of this extraordinary event. Interestingly, expert examination revealed that the wheel was not made from fresh wood, not even the wood of a single tree.The Old Town Hall also houses another of Brno's famous symbols: the Brno Dragon, which is actually a crocodile. Legend says that the dragon threatened the city until a clever butcher devised a trap using a lime-filled animal hide.