Brno, Czech Republic

Brno, Czech Republic
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Author: Norbert Aepli
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Brno is the largest city in the Margraviate of Moravia and the second largest in the Czech Republic. Located in the southeastern part of the country, it covers 230.19 sq km (88.9 sq mi) and has a population of 405,000 people (2011 estimate) within a metropolitan area of 810,000 people.

Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Brno
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Author: Kirk
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Human habitation in the Brno area goes back to prehistoric times. There was a fortified settlement here within the Great Moravia Empire from the Neolithic Age until the early 11th century. The present city traces its history to a castle built here in the early 11th century.

Brno became the capital of Moravia in 1641. In 1839, a railway line was contructed linking it to Vienna. It was the first railway line in present-day Czech Republic. The city also has the first tram service in the country.

Interior of Vaňkovky shopping mall, Brno
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Author: Lukas Maly
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During the Second World War, Brno was occupied by the Nazis. Allied bombings greatly devastated the city. After the war, it ceased being the capital city of Moravia, and never regained its earlier significance. Nevertheless the city was rebuilt, and today is a major cultural center in the Czech Republic.

Visiting Brno

You can reach Brno by train from Prague, with is less than three hours away by high-speed train. There are also trains from Olomouc, one and a half hours away.

Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, Brno
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Author: Podzemnik
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Places of Interest in Brno

Augustinian Monastery (Augustiniánský klášter)
This was where the monk Gregor Mendel formulated his theory of genetics. Today a museum is housed here to showcase his work.
Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul (Katedrála sv. Petra a Pavla)
Church on the site of the first castle in Brno. Originally built in the Romanesque style, the church was given a Gothic makeover in the 13th century. Subsequent renovations erased the Gothic appearance, but a restoration in the 19th century returned it.
Church of the Holy Cross (kostel sv. Kříže)
Church with an austere façade is home to a host of mummified monks in its crypt.
Moravian Gallery
Collection of Moravian works of art spread across three premises.
Moravian National Museum
Museum housed in the Dietrichstein Palace located at the south end of Zelný trh.
Náměstí Svobody
The main square in Brno surrounded by historic buildings.
New Town Hall (Nová radnice)
New in name perhaps, this seat of the city council dates to the 18th century. It was built within the grounds of a former Dominican monastery, whose church, the St Michael's, still stands.
Old Town Hall (Stará radnice)
This is the oldest secular building in Brno. It was built in 1240 and renovated down the centuries.
Špilberk
Built in the 13th century, Špilberk served as a royal residence some 400 years later. It was also used as a prison following the Napoleonic wars and by the Nazis during the Second World War.
St Michael's Church
Church of the former Dominican monastery.
Villa Tugendhat
Building erected in 1929-30 by German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, an outstanding example of Functionalism.
Zelný trh ("Cabbage Market")
This is the public square in Brno. A vegetable market has been held here since the Middle Ages, hence the name. Its centerpiece is the beautiful Parnassus Fountain.

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