Incomings :: Brno :: City

Brno is located in the southeast part of the country, at the confluence of the Svitava and Svratka rivers. The city is a political and cultural hub of the South Moravian Region (estimated population of 1,130,000 for the whole region). At the same time, it represents the centre of the province of Moravia, one of the historic lands of the Czech Crown. It is situated at the crossroads of ancient trade routes which have joined northern and southern European civilizations for centuries. Due to its location between the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands and the Southern Moravian lowlands, Brno has a moderate climate.


How to get here?
Road transport - Brno is situated at the crossroads of the D1 (Prague - Brno) and D2 (Brno - Bratislava) motorways. Both these motorways form part of the trans-European East-West highways (France - Ukraine: E50) and North-South (Scandinavia - Balkans: E55, E65).
Best for all students and people comming from Prague is going here by Student Agency.

more information here


History (longer version here):
Brno as such was acknowledged to be a town in 1243 by Václav I, King of Bohemia, but the area itself had been settled since the 5th century. From the 11th century, a castle of the governing Přemyslid dynasty stood here, and was the seat of the non-ruling prince.
During the mid-14th century Brno became one of the centers for the Moravian regional assemblies, whose meetings alternated between Brno and Olomouc. These regional authority organs made decisions on political, legal, and financial questions. They were also responsible for the upkeep of regional records.
During the Hussite Wars, the city remained faithful to King Zikmund. The Hussites twice laid siege to the city, once in 1428 and again in 1430, both times in vain.
During the Thirty Years' War, in 1643 and 1645, Brno was the only city to successfully defend itself from Swedish sieges, thereby allowing the Austrian Empire to reform their armies and to repel the Swedish pressure. In recognition of its services, the city was rewarded with a renewal of its city privileges. In the years following the Thirty Years' War, the city became an impregnable baroque fortress. In 1742, the Prussians vainly attempted to conquer the city, and the position of Brno was confirmed with the establishment of a bishopric in 1777.
In the 18th century, development of industry and trade began to take place, which continued into the next century. Soon after the industrial revolution, the town became one of the industrial centres of Moravia ? sometimes it even being called the Czech Manchester. In 1839, the first train arrived in Brno. Together with the development of industry came the growth of the suburbs, and the city lost its fortifications, as did the Spielberg fortress, which became a notorious prison to where not only criminals were sent, but also political opponents of the Austrian Empire. Gas lighting was introduced to the city in 1847 and a tram system in 1869. Mahen Theatre in Brno was the first building in the world to use Edison's electric lamps.
During the "First Republic" (1918 - 1938) Brno continued to gain importance ? it was during this period that Masaryk University was established (1919), the state armory (Ceskoslovenska Statni Zbrojovka Brno) was established (1919), and the Brno Fairgrounds were opened in 1928 with an exhibition of contemporary culture. The city was not only a centre of industry and commerce, but also of education and culture. Famous people who lived and worked in the city include Gregor Mendel, Leos Janacek, Viktor Kaplan, Jiri Mahen, and Bohuslav Fuchs.
In 1939 Brno was annexed by Nazi Germany along with the rest of Moravia and Bohemia. After the war, the ethnic German population of approximately 270,000 was expelled.

Culture:
The city of Brno is considered to be a significant centre of culture in the Czech Republic. In comparison with other cities, there is an abundance of cultural facilities and an exceptional variety of cultural activities.
The statutory City of Brno has established four professional theatres: the National Theatre of Brno, the Metropolitan Theatre, the Joy Puppet Theatre and the Centre for Experimental Theatre (an umbrella organization for the alternative theatre ensembles Divadlo Husa na provázku, HaDivadlo and Divadlo U stolu). Other professional theatre groups are also active in Brno, some of the most active belonging to the Bolek Polívka Theatre, 7:30 Theatre, etc.
The centre of musical life in Brno is Besedni Dum - home of the Brno Philharmonic. The Philharmonic includes the Kantiléna Youth and Children's Choir. Other musical activities include, e.g., the Brno International Music Festival and the Špilberk International Music Festival.
The Jiri Mahen Library in Brno, with its main library and 35 branches, forms the largest public municipal Library in Moravia (established by the statutory City of Brno). Brno is also the site of the Moravian Territorial Library, Archive of the City of Brno and the Moravian Territorial Archive in Brno.
In the visual arts, the chief venue is The Art House of the City of Brno. Other galleries and arts institutions include the Moravian Gallery, the Design Centre Gallery, galleries run by the Brno Cultural Centre (Galerie mladych, Galerie U Dobrého pastyre, Galerie 10, Galerie Kabinet), Vankovka Gallery, and others.
Brno is also host to the Brno Zoological Gardens, Botanical Gardens and Arboretum of Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Botanical Gardens of the Natural Science Faculty of Masaryk University and the Nicholas Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium.
The Brno Cultural Centre, with its varied activities, complements and adds to the cultural offerings of the city of Brno.
The Tourist Information Centre of the City of Brno is an organization whose fundamental mission is to provide tourist information and publicity for the City of Brno both in the Czech Republic and in other countries.

Recreation and sports:
The City of Brno is traditionally an important centre for football, hockey, basketball, volleyball and other team sports. Nearby Brno Reservoir may also be used for an extensive range of free time activities. A new golf course was opened just outside Brno in Jinacovice in June, 2006.

Every year a series of national level sporting competitions take place in Brno. The Brno Automotodrome is the site every year for a range of important sporting activities, including the World Motorcycle Championship and the European Touring Car Championship.

Indoor and outdoor swimming pools, multi-purpose sporting halls and playgrounds, gymnasiums and winter sports stadiums serve for the leisure time activities of Brno residents.

More information about Geography and Quality of Life here