Brno lies roughly in the centre of the region of South Moravia, one of the historic lands of the Bohemian Crown. It is the second largest city in the Czech Republic with a population of approximately 380,000 residents, and is the administrative, industrial, commercial and cultural capital of South Moravia. Brno is located in the river basin of the Svratka and the Svitava Rivers just to the north of their confluence, on the ancient crossroads of trade routes from the north to the south of Europe. Surrounded by picturesque rural countryside and wooded hills, this area is part of the larger Danube River basin. Vienna is located a mere 100 kilometres to the south, which historically has heavily influenced the development of the city.
Established in the 13th century, Brno has always been an important city and boasts many historical places of interest with the city’s landmark being the hilltop Spilberk (Spielberg) Castle. Today, this 13th century fortress still dominates the skyline and has made its mark in history by being used during the 15th century Hussite Wars, later as barracks, and more recently as a gaol for political prisoners and criminals. During World War II the castle was used by the invading German’s for unsavory deeds, and today has become home to the Brno City Museum, which tells the history of the castle and city. Brno is a relatively small city and can easily be explored on foot with major attractions being within a short walk of the main Svoboda Square.
Major attractions include the old Town Hall which was constructed during the 13th century and is today the oldest secular building in Brno and well known for the ‘Dragon of Brno’ and the ‘Wheel’, both of which have become local symbols of the city. Just south of the Town Hall is the square known as Zelny trh, or Cabbage Market, which has been the site of a farmer’s market since the 13th century. Here you can see the 17th century Reduta Theatre, where Mozart and his sister played as children, and the Dietrichstein Palace which houses the Moravian Regional Museum. The oldest church in Brno is the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul which is located on top of the Petrov Hill, with its two spires clearly visible from a distance. The Cathedral overlooks the city and was built in the late 11th century on the site of the original Brno castle. Re-built in the 18th and re-furbished in the 20th century the Cathedral is now a conglomeration of styles creating its own unique character. One of the Cathedral’s more interesting activities is the ringing of the noon bells at 11am, a tradition that dates back to 1645. Just below the Cathedral is the Capuchin Monastery with its interesting crypt.
Other attractions include the 14th century Franciscan Church of St John; the 13th century Dominican Monastery and its Church of St Michael, and the Augustinian Monastery and Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary which was originally built by the Cistercians in the 14th century; St James Church, the Synagogue and Jewish Cemetery and the Brno Exhibition Centre. Also located in Brno is the Tugendhat Villa which is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site, and considered to be one of the masterpieces of modernist architecture in the world. Built in 1930 it was designed by the famous German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and is an outstanding example of the international architectural style that flourished in 1920’s Europe.
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