Brno
Brno is a second largest city a CZ. Brno is the metroppolis with more than 40000 inhabitants. The city´s industrisl character sharply contrast with splendid lanscape. The city is at confluence of two rivers – Svratka and Svitava. In surrowding of Brno is Czecho-Moravian and Drahan highlands.
Brno has been occupied since 30 000 B.C. The first short-term tribal camps were in the “Moravský kras”. First clan, which rule over this region were the Kelts, then the Slaves. They started to develop a community and the first protective walls were being built.
The name “Brno” originated for the Celtic “Ebur”, which meant mud or clay. The name has first appeared in the oldest Czech Kosma’s chronicle.
Moravian duke Vladislav made Brno as it’s capital of Moravian empire. The old castle was rebuilt into a cathedral and the duke built a castle Spielberg on the opposite hill. The city was officialy estabilished by king Václav I., who garanted Brno privileges as a royal city and Brno started to prosper. The most important was its succesful defence against Swedish army.
What is known as Broque Brno was building of Jan Křtitel Erna. Between the wars was Brno transformed into a modern city. Brno has become a center of international trade fairs.
Brno is a city with interesting history and wonderful culture. The oldest theatre building in town is Reduta. Mahen Theatre was built in the years 1881-82. This theatre was a rarity due to its original electrical installations designed by Thomas Edison. Janáček Theatre was completed in 1965. In 1992 was estabilished the Theatre Goose on a String on the Cabbage Market.
The nearly 60 years old motor-sport tradition in Brno has resulted in a new modern motor-sport area – Masaryk Circuit.
The Kníničská Dam on the Svratka river is one of the oldest river dams in our country. The dam offer many sports and recreation possibilities to swimmer, rowers, yachtsman and other.
The ŠPILBERK castle was founded in the second half of the 13th century by the kink Přemysl Otakar II. In the 14th century the castle was the residence of the Lucemburk clan. In the 17th it was recontructed in a big fortress. The original purpose of the famous casemates was to serve as a shelter of the garrion, its armaments and other materials. The emperor Joseph II. decided, that jails for murders, robbers and other dangerous individuals will be estabilished there. The most famous among them was Baron Trenk. In Špilberg, not only ordinarycriminals were imprisoned, but also those who fight for human rights andd liberty of nations. Now the Špilberg serve as a museum.
Characteristic of brno´s skyline is the silhoulette of PETROV. The St.Peter and Paul´s cathedral with its two high towers is the oldest church in the town. The exterior is Gothic and interior is Baroque.
OLD TOWN HALL – The portal with its statues of herolds and burghers and its allegory of Justice is the work of Anthony Pilgram. In the main entrance you can see the notorious Brno dragon and the wooden wheel.
The only preserved medieval gate to the city is the „Měnínská brána“
CABBAGE MARKET – The centre is dominated by a large fountain of the name Parnas. There is an artificial cave in the middle of the fountain, above the cave there are allegorical sculpture of Europe, Persia, Greece and Babylonia.
Capucin square is dominated by church and the convent.