Brno what a country. Entertainment and recreation. International festivals of symphonic music

A city in the south of the Czech Republic with a short and sonorous name Brno is not only an industrial, but also a cultural center of the republic. Brno is a bit smaller than Prague in size, but it really has enough sights to spend an unforgettable weekend or even a vacation on its streets.

What can you see in Brno?

Castles, cathedrals, squares and town halls adorn Brno in a special way. Markets and shopping centers operate on the city territory, and the buildings amaze with a variety of architectural styles with a slight touch of antiquity.

Around the Spielberg castle complex, the city of Brno grew in antiquity. The construction of the castle dates back to the 13th century. The decree to start construction came from King Přemysl II.

The castle had two main functions: defensive and residential. The king made his own residence in the castle. In 1645, the strong walls of the castle came in handy for the Czechs, they withstood the Swedish siege without much difficulty on the part of the defenders.

In the 17th century, Spielberg served as a prison, which was nicknamed the "Dungeon of the Nations", as political prisoners were imprisoned there..

Now the castle is both a museum and a historical monument. It regularly conducts excursions for individual tourists and tourist groups. During the summer, the Spielberg Gate is open to visitors seven days a week from 9 am. In winter, the day off falls on Monday.

Square, vegetable market and fountain

The square, which got its name from the vegetable market located there, is famous for its Parnassus Fountain. In the center of the composition of the fountain you can see the goddess of Europe, then there are statues of the three powers.

The vegetable market is still active today. It is visited by local residents and visitors spending their holidays in Brno.

Impressions of castles and squares are often erased from memory, but the surprise of the whims of nature remains in its nooks and crannies for a really long time. When traveling around Brno, it is worth setting aside a day to visit the Moravian Karst.

Kras is a system consisting of karst caves underground. The caves are located in the nature reserve of the same name near the town of Blansko, which borders Brno.

The length of the underground tunnels is 25 kilometers. The total number of caves exceeds 1000, many of them have not yet been explored..

The following caves are open for visiting in Moravske Kras:

• Katarzynska;
• Balcarka;
• Stolbno-Shoshuvskaya;
• Punkva.

Kras' dungeons are inhabited by bats and lizards, so you should not visit these places alone. It is much safer to explore the caves as part of an excursion group.

Church of Saints Peter and Paul

The magnificent Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul was built in the 13th century on the site of a former Roman church. The majestic spiers and vaults of the cathedral gave comfort to the inhabitants of Brno when the city was besieged by the Swedes. Today, the church is no less important for the townspeople.

There is a museum in the cathedral, there is an active information center, and organ concerts are also held. The building is located on Petrova Street and is open to visitors from 7 am.

City Hall on Green Market Square

The ancient and richly decorated town hall is the heart of the city. Previously, there was a court, a council, an institution that printed money. Now there is a cultural center in the town hall, which is listed in all Brno guidebooks.

The town hall was built in three architectural styles at once: Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance.

In summer, under the arch of the town hall, a coin minter shows his work to tourists. The building houses a museum and an art gallery. The old town hall is located in the center of Brno.

Villa Tugendhat in Art Nouveau style

The building is the property of the Tugendhat couple. The villa was designed for them by Ludwig van der Rohe in 1930. This building was listed by UNESCO as one of the best houses in the Art Nouveau style.

You can visit the villa on weekdays from 10 to 6 pm. Sometimes it is open for visits on weekends. The building houses a museum, as well as detailed tours.

Veverzhi Castle at the bend of two rivers

Just 20 kilometers from the city of Brno there is a wonderful architectural monument - the Veverzhi castle complex. The rivers Svratka and Veverka flow nearby.

The castle was rebuilt in the 13th century. It was used by crowned persons for hunting and out-of-town recreation. After the castle was a prison, it was handed over to the city and a museum was organized there.

In the warm season, concerts, holidays and festivals are held in Veverzhi. It is better to go to the castle by taxi or private car. You can order an excursion from Brno, then delivery to its gates will be carried out on a comfortable bus. The tour will cost the tourist 180 kroons, a single visit 30 kroons.

Church of St. Jacob on Jacob's Square

The capital of Moravia, the city of churches with a century-long history, which is clearly displayed on architectural monuments, the 2nd most important and largest city after Prague is Brno. For its colorful boulevards lined with chestnut trees, locals compare it to Paris. It can also be safely called the center of festivals, colorful fairs and fun. This city will give you a lot of impressions and surprise you!

Sights of Brno (Czech Republic) with photo

Sights, legends and history of Brno

Museums Brno

Despite the huge number of historical monuments, the city is also full of many museums:

• Moravian Museum;
• Technical Museum;
• Museum of the city of Brno and others.

Theaters

Theater lovers should definitely visit:

• theater "Reduta";
• theater "G-Studio";
• theater "Bolek Polivka" and others.

Castles Brno

Fans of historical fortresses full of legends and secrets will appreciate the castles of the city, namely:

• Pernstein;
• Spielberg;
• Veverzhi.

galleries

You can get closer to painting by visiting the gallery:

• them. Wannieka;
• Moravian Gallery;
• "G99 Gallery".

Cathedrals and monasteries

Every tourist should, as far as possible, visit at least a few shrines from this list:

• Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul;
• monastery of the Capuchins;

• Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary;
• Church of St. Jacob.

TOP 5 main attractions of Brno with descriptions and photos

Spielberg Castle

Do you know that …
Various events are often held in the castle, which are accompanied by the performance of Brno folklore groups. Therefore, before visiting this place full of legends, be sure to first check out the event poster, which can be found on the official website http://www.spilberk.cz/.

This is one of the most important historical sights of the city. It was from this castle that Brno began to get upset and develop. It was built in the 13th century by King Přemysl Otakar II. Despite the fact that the building initially served as a royal residence, its main purpose was to protect the city from enemies. A little later, the castle was transformed into one of the largest European prisons, which gave Spielberg the 2nd name - "Dungeon of Nations". Today, Spielberg Castle is an incredible museum complex and a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Important!
Working hours: 9:00 - 17:00.
July - September: 10:00 - 18:00.
October - April: Mon - day off.
Ticket price:
Family - 205 CZK (2 - 3 children and 2 adults).
Adult - 90 CZK.
Preferential - 50 CZK.

Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul

The cathedral is located on Peter's Hill, which offers an incredible view. He is simply mesmerizing with his greatness. The church was built in con. XIII century, where the Roman chapel was previously located. Incredibly, it was this temple that became the starting point of the new time in Brno. Indeed, according to legend, in the confrontation with the Swedes, an agreement was drawn up between the commanders of both armies. It was that if the Swedish army did not break into the city before noon, then it should retreat. The bell ringer struck noon, and the enemies retreated, only he struck 12 strokes at 11:00, an hour earlier. Thus, the city was saved and since then noon in Brno starts at 11 o'clock.

Do you know that …
the spiers of the temple towers are visible everywhere you are in the city. And the image of the church is placed on a coin of 10 crowns.

Villa Tugendhat

This architectural structure is a bright representative of the Art Nouveau style. This is the only monument in the Czech Republic that is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The villa was built by the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, whose chairs are produced and are popular in Europe to this day. The building is surrounded by a beautiful garden, which slightly softens the massiveness of the villa. By the way, tourists are allowed to take photos inside the house, but without a tripod and flash.

Important!
Working mode:
Tue - Sun: 10:00 - 18:00.
Entry price:
Basic tour (1 hour) – 300 CZK.
Students and pensioners - 180 CZK.
Family ticket - 690 CZK.
Extended tour (1.5 hours) – 350 CZK.
Students and pensioners - 210 CZK.
Family ticket - 805 CZK.
Sign up for a tour should be 2 weeks in advance on the official website.

Freedom Square

This is the most beautiful and ancient square of the city, where tourists can get acquainted with the unique 6-meter clock in the form of a cartridge case. Every day at 11:00 the clock fires glass bullets that anyone can catch. Therefore, every day at the openings of the sleeve lined up.
Also on Freedom Square you can get acquainted with such buildings as:

• Plague Column;
• Klein Palace;
• House "At four boobies";

• Palace "Omega";
• Fountain with poems by Jan Skacel.

Important!
How to get to the square?
By tram number: 4, 8, 9.
Station Namesti Svobody.

old town hall

The Town Hall is considered the heart of the city of Brno. It is unique not only for its architectural design and style, but also for its observation deck, which offers an incredible view of the city.

What to see in 1 day stay in Brno?

Maybe for some it will seem a little, but it is still quite possible to see the city of Brno and get acquainted with its main attractions in just 1 day of stay. Many architectural structures and shrines are located near the central square.
When going on your own to get acquainted with the sights of the city of Brno, be sure to see if any festival or fair is expected there. After all, various large-scale events are held in Brno quite often.
For those who are going to get to know this unique Czech town as quickly as possible, we offer 1 day itinerary for the most prominent places:

1. Start the morning with an acquaintance with the mysterious Spielberg Castle.
2. Hurry up after Freedom Square, where be sure to catch a glass bullet at the clock in the form of a cartridge case at 11:00.
3. On Freedom Square you can also dine in one of the restaurants. Especially visit "Under Radnicnim Kolem" where you can taste baked boar's knee, vole in bread and the best Moravian wines. You can also check out the restaurant. Tulip, where be sure to enjoy a young rabbit, duck pate and goose liver in apple-honey sauce.
4. In the 2nd floor. day visit Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul and explore the caves Moravian beauty.
5. Dine in a restaurant "Borgo Agnese", it is located on Smoked street.

Family holidays in Brno: what to see in the city with children?

If you are vacationing with children, then you should definitely visit several fascinating places:

• Zoo Brno. Here, children can feed and pet the llamas. In addition, a walk through the zoo will be informative and interesting.
• Reserve Obora Holedna Brno. In it you can watch deer in their natural habitat. Also there you will meet wild boars and various rare species of birds.
• Center Velka Dohoda. This is a whole complex of entertainment for children. In addition to various attractions, here you will find rope bridges, bungee rides, and obstacle courses.
• Aquapark Kohoutovice. This water park is equipped with pools for small children and for adults. There is also a good selection of slides and a relaxation area with a Jacuzzi.

Video overview of the sights of Brno

Brno is one of the best places for , as well as quite an interesting place for fans of city tours . And this is not surprising because Brno is an ancient city rich in historical sights that you can talk about for hours. But despite this, we have selected for you a short but vivid video about the sights of Brno.

Be sure to visit Brno in the Czech Republic! Use the presented route and leave your comments on how successful it is.

Being the second largest city, the first, of course, is the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, the city of Brno today is not only the industrial capital of the country, but also a large cultural and commercial center.

The countdown of the royal dynasty of the Přemyslids began from this city. Brno is beautiful in any season, although the spring here is unusually attractive with its originality and beauty. Emerald-tender gardens are fragrant here, and through the young, still sticky foliage, you can see the proud silhouettes of castles and the sweet smoke of world-famous breweries.

And although most tourists traditionally flock to the capitals of countries, cities like Brno are in no way inferior to them in all respects. And the fact that the flow of tourists here is not as large as, say, in Prague, has its own advantage: you can get acquainted with many magnificent sights and beauties of the second capital without fuss, without jostling in numerous crowds of tourists. And there is something to see in the ancient city of the Czech Republic. In addition to the concentration of many world-famous places and attractions here, Brno is known for its congresses and festivals, not only of national, but also of world significance. In a word, having arrived in this city, you will find something to see, here everyone has something to do for the soul.

How to get there

Brno is located geographically in the south of the country. The city is surrounded by two rivers - Svitava and Svratka. If you are going to visit Brno by plane, then there are several direct flights from Moscow, direct flights of Atlant-Soyuz and Yakutia airlines are made from here. The flight will take approximately two hours. You can get to it by plane of Czech Airlines Brno from cities such as Bratislava, Vienna, Prague. Airport in the Czech city - "Turany". It is located within ten kilometers from the central district of Brno, which can be reached by using bus line 76 or taxi services (300 - 400 CZK). Finding a city taxi rank is not difficult, as a rule, it is right there - in front of the terminal. You can book this transport in advance by calling +420 542 321 321. It will take a third of an hour to get to the city center.

If you are going to Brno by train from Olomouc, Bratislava, Vienna or East Moravia, then such a trip will take you an hour and a half. It takes a little longer to get there - about two and a half hours - from Ostrava and North Moravia.

Hotels

The trip to Brno can usually take some time, so you can book great hotels to choose from:

• Barcelo Brno Palace - from 7 thousand rubles.
• Hotel Cyro - from 4 thousand rubles.
• Hotel Slavia - from 3.5 thousand rubles.
• Brno Downtown Apart hostel - from 2 thousand rubles.
• U Heligonky - from 2 thousand rubles.
• Hotel Pyramid from - 1.5 thousand rubles.

City cuisine

Those who like to taste delicious and healthy food will always find a good place - after all, here is one of the finest cuisines not only in Brno, but far beyond its borders. If you try at least some of the local bread with a crispy taste, which is prepared by the bakers at Cejl 105, you will feel real bliss. The bakery is located next to the Inter Spar tram stop.

And if you add to this pork knuckles, which local chefs season with a mixture of fragrant herbs: marjoram, rosemary and others, distinguished by an amazing palette of aromas, then you will not be pulled back from such food, as they say, by the ears. All this dish goes well with excellent Czech beer. Dessert lovers will not be offended either. Confectioners from the center of Brno are simply virtuosos in this matter: baking cherry strudel on a fire is a trifle for them. But the outskirts are not far behind either: here you will be prepared and served a portion of amazing lemon Lebanese flavored with blueberries. Don't miss out on the "toast" - this is such a hot appetizer made from excellent pork neck products, chili peppers and a baguette. The most popular beer varieties are Budvar, Urquell, which should definitely “decorate” your dinner, and a glass of light wine is also suitable.

Excellent restaurants are:

• Rialto Ristorante - on average costs 1,200 CZK;
• U Kastelana - 1450 CZK.

shopping

There is a store for everyone here. Those who love the gloss of social life can visit Galerie Vankovka. At the entrance you will be greeted by luxurious shop windows, bright showrooms; everything is exquisite and has popular brands plus excellent service. For those who went in search of souvenirs, there is a wonderful Olympia. There is a huge variety of original and even somewhat mysterious crafts in their depiction, which were diligently made by craftsmen from Brno. Gourmets also have something to see and not only see, but also taste in the wonderful establishments of Billa, Paneria and others.

After all, they always have fresh supplies of the best organic products from nearby estates. What is there only: fish, fresh meat, excellent wines, crispy bread made in the best bakeries of the city. The outskirts can be visited while exploring the seasonal market, where beer tastings are held every year, as well as bright and unforgettable fairs and many other equally interesting events.

Brno attractions

There are unique cathedrals and churches, many excellent theaters and galleries, magnificent castles and ancient monasteries. Walking through the streets, there is a great opportunity to breathe in the atmosphere of the local city life. The main sights of the city's architecture are located in its central districts.

Here you can see the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, its spire is visible from almost every point in Brno, the Catholic Church of St. Jacob, under which the largest bone repository in Europe is located, the Cathedral of St. Thomas, the Old Town Hall and many other attractions. The city center is the beautiful old squares of Brno. A great place not only for walking, but also for viewing unique architectural buildings. Dominican, Isakovskaya squares, the largest - Freedom - about them and other squares will be discussed below.

The central urban areas are a large pedestrian zone that covers almost the entire territory of the historical center. In addition to objects of cultural and historical heritage, tourists are given the opportunity to visit cafes, restaurants and shops, of which there are a lot.

Tourists who took their children with them on a trip should definitely visit the city zoo. Its mode of operation is simple: it opens at 9 am, and it is only half an hour walk from the center. Those who love theatrical art will also find something to see - there are about 20 independent and professional theaters and studios in Brno.

So, the main attractions of Brno, Czech Republic:

This unique building is located in the Black Fields. A monument of architecture in the Art Nouveau style of the twentieth century was designed by a German architect. This is the only building of its kind in the country, which is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In the construction of the villa, steel, concrete, glass were used, and most importantly, an open layout was applied. Which for the 30s of the last century was very original and literally changed all ideas about the architecture of such structures.

The villa was specially built by the Tugendhat families. Its owners Greta and Fritz lived here for eight years, until the National Socialists came to power. Only at the end of the twentieth century the villa was restored and took on its former appearance. Be sure to visit this building - it will give you the opportunity to see with your own eyes the embodiment of a technical idea that could outrun time. The villa is equipped as if it was built today, and not almost a hundred years ago.

This building was originally built in the form of a hunting lodge at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The castle, having a rich history, is currently one of the most ancient architectural monuments of the country. It is located in a wonderful place - it is a picturesque cape, which is located twenty kilometers from the city near two wonderful rivers.

This building has a long and interesting history. The castle was built in the thirteenth century as the main residence of the king and more than once changed its appearance and interior decoration. After all, there was a military fortification and a prison here - and cells are still preserved on the lower floor. Currently, it belongs to the main attractions of Brno. This is due to the fact that he, in fact, laid the foundation for the city.

It is quite rich in expositions. After all, in terms of its size, it is in second place in the whole country. Its opening took place in the 19th century, thanks to well-known and wealthy patrons who donated to the museum an original collection of works of art. Almost six million exhibits are stored here - valuable scientific materials. The museum has fifteen departments.

Technical Museum

The four-storey museum building is located in the northern part of the city. Here you can see a lot of interesting things that are connected with the development of various technologies. This includes cars and motorcycles of the last century, plastic aircraft models of all times and countries, and much more. You can also see the technical game room, where there are objects that show physical laws at work.

Church of St. James

Under it, in the seventeenth century, the remains began to be stored in a three-chambered tomb. Already at the end of the next century, it was overcrowded. It was decided to move it to the outskirts of the city. Soon the tomb was forgotten. When at the beginning of the twenty-first century the reconstruction work of the square was carried out, an inspection of the dungeons was required, and the ossuary was discovered. Currently, this burial is a popular tourist attraction.

Pernstein

To find out who is hiding behind the "White Lady", you need to visit this castle. But I can tell you a secret - this is the name of the ghost that settled here. The country at one time was popular not only as a country of romantic people, but also as the birthplace of mysterious and magical creatures.

Cabbage Market

This is the name of one of the oldest squares, which began to be built at the beginning of the thirteenth century. The name was given to it for a reason, because for several centuries there was a brisk trade in vegetables and small goods, as well as poultry. Now here, those who wish can also taste even fried poultry. Here, in the cabbage market, there is the Paranas Fountain. It is a stone pedestal that rises in the center and depicts the goddess Europa.

Freedom Square

It is considered the oldest and largest square of the city. In the Middle Ages, it was called the "lower market". Here were the houses of wealthy citizens and influential people. From a bird's eye view, it resembles the letter "A", which has been turned upside down. In the center is a column called the plague column. She is a symbol of liberation from the Swedes and from the plague. The top of the column is decorated with the Virgin Mary and Child.

Three trade routes, intersecting, served as the beginning of the construction of the square. This happened in the eighth century. Since then, it has been not only the center of trade, but also the social life of Brno. On weekdays, days of fairs and sales were held here, and with the onset of holidays and weekends - various entertainment events.

Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul

This temple will amaze anyone with its splendor and grandeur. It was built at the end of the thirteenth century on a hill. It has two towers, almost a hundred meters high, the spiers of which are directed to the sky and are visible far away even outside the city. The cathedral is recognized in the Czech Republic as a cultural national monument. In the middle of the seventeenth century, the building was badly damaged. Only a century later there was an opportunity to restore it. There are many legends associated with the cathedral. According to one of them, it is said that in 1645 the commander promised to leave the city if he did not capture it before twelve o'clock in the afternoon. The ringer, having made a mistake, rang exactly an hour earlier. And the city by this time was not taken. To this day, in tribute to the memory, the tower clock rings at eleven o'clock in the afternoon. The church is minted on a ten crown coin.

old town hall

The building is located next to the Green Market Square, it is considered the heart of Brno. The Town Hall is one of the oldest buildings, as it began to be built in the thirteenth century. Only at the beginning of the fourteenth century did the old building begin to perform the functions that were provided for in the project. It embodies a number of architectural styles. And this is no coincidence, because the architecture of the city over the centuries has been influenced by the Austrians, the Dutch, the Germans, which, of course, influenced the appearance.
The town hall has been reconstructed and rebuilt many times. In the middle of the seventeenth century, a shield and the coat of arms of the city were erected on the building. There were meetings of parliament, courts, and securities were also kept, the rear wing was set aside for a prison. Currently, the town hall is a popular tourist attraction. Here you can see various exhibitions and other interesting events.

Monastery of the Capuchins

A very famous tomb. Sixteen monastic remains found their last shelter in it. A special air circulation has been created here, which makes them look like they are alive. More than one hundred and fifty bodies of influential people are also buried in it. Here you can read the following words: “We were like you. And you will be like us."

Planetarium

Together with the Observatory Copernicus, they are located on a mountain called Cow, this is the central part of the city. They were founded in the middle of the twentieth century. It is a large dome and with two hundred seats. Spectators, both adults and children, can listen with pleasure to an interesting program that the observatory prepares for its visitors. Here you can learn a lot about the life of stars and the Universe, how they work. A virtual tour of space can be very exciting and exciting.

Redoubt Theater

The city is rich in theaters, there are more than fifteen of them here. Among them, the most remarkable is one of the most ancient European theaters - Reduta. In Brno, they got acquainted with wandering troupes as early as the sixteenth century. Subsequently, a stage was specially built for them, choosing a suitable place in the tavern, and only then they began to build a theater here in the eighteenth century. In addition to performances, various secular events were organized in it. The theater on its stage even saw performances by Mozart himself, who was still a boy. Now the theater is looking for new forms of self-expression, which is sometimes reflected in scandalous tours.

"Goose on a leash"

This is the name of the avant-garde and very colorful theater, which is conveniently located in the city center - on the Cabbage Market. It is distinguished by its originality and, in fact, is the main alternative theater of the country. Numerous victories in international festivals and competitions speak of his popularity and success. His productions are always original and, coupled with the skill of the actors, cannot fail to impress and surprise even the most demanding audience. Originality is Goose's credo, and it is visible in everything - in a wonderful and original design and performance.

city ​​zoo

A great attraction that will be of interest to both children and adults. In the zoo you can see many amazing animals, among them there are even Przewalski's horses - this is a species that is on the verge of extinction. And in total, about eight hundred animals live on the beautifully designed territory, which makes it possible for pets to walk on natural grounds. Visitors can use the electric train to tour all parts of the park area. In addition, visitors who come here with their children will have the opportunity to visit the petting zoo, where children can communicate with animals directly: stroke, play with small herbivores, ride a pony. In addition to the zoo, nature lovers can visit the botanical garden and the arboretum, which are located at the Gregor Mendel University.

natural attractions

Brno is very rich in natural attractions.

The Moravian Karst is one of the largest karst zones in Central Europe. Karst areas contain more than a thousand one hundred different caves. Visitors are allowed to visit only a few of them, in particular:

• in Katerzhinskaya. Here you can see many unique stalagmites, which differ in an unusual vertical position;
• in Balzark. Here visitors will look at the bright and varied stalactite "gathering" on the walls;
• in Stolbno-Shoshuvskaya. She will amaze with huge underground abysses and long corridors;
• in Punkva. For tourists, this will be a real journey to the underground river of the same name. Those who are not particularly shy can be curious about the rather impressive sight of the bottom of the Macocha abyss. Such an abyss turned out due to the collapsed top of a huge cave. The gap is also impressive. The abyss is 175 meters long and 75 meters wide. There are observation bridges here - above and below. From the bridge that is arranged in the lower part, you can see the bottom.

Luzhanka Park

It was opened to the first visitors at the end of the eighteenth century. Its design was entrusted to the chief city gardener A. Bisinger. As a result, it was furnished in a modern style in those years. The efforts of the gardener gave their results, and were duly appreciated by the townspeople. Subsequently, the park was replenished with various exotic plants, more than one hundred and fifty species. Here you can admire the soap tree, Hungarian oak and maple tree. Currently, the park has expanded to twenty hectares.

We always traveled to Brno: once, returning from, we spent 1 hour in it, but we never managed to walk around the city longer. Recently there was a free sunny day, and we decided to take a ride to see how the capital of Moravia, the city of Brno, lives.

1. How to get from Prague to Brno

Before the trip, everyone decides for himself how to get from Prague to Brno. There are 3 options in total:

1. Train. Trains leave for Brno from. Tickets can be bought in advance and at the station. Fare: 199-352 CZK. Travel time: 2.5 hours. Every hour there are approximately 2-3 trains to Brno. Moreover, in the Czech Republic there is no monopoly on railway transportation, and you can travel to Brno not only on trains of the Czech Railways, but also on comfortable private trains of LEO Express or RegioJet companies.
2. Bus. There are regular buses to Brno. On the buses of the following companies you can get from Prague to Brno: RegioJet, Eurolines and a dozen other small companies. Every hour approximately 3-4 intercity buses leave for Brno. Travel time: 2.5 hours. Average fare: 150-200 CZK one way. Tickets can be bought on official websites or on a Russian-language website where prices are compared from many companies. The buses are comfortable, have a toilet, air conditioning and entertainment systems. In Brno, buses most often come to the bus station at the Grand Hotel (AN u hotelu Grand).
3. Automobile. You can get to Brno by personal or. The road takes the same 2.5 hours. The distance between the cities of Prague-Brno is 206 km, and it will not be possible to get to Brno faster than the bus, as the D1 motorway is constantly being repaired.

2. First, some numbers, because everyone loves numbers, and especially loot! The population of Brno is 378,000 people. The city's budget is 35 billion rubles. Whenever we visit a particular city, we draw analogies with the cities we have already visited, or with our native city. So, in my hometown with a population of 3 times more, the budget is 16 billion rubles. From the figures it is already clear that the city is prosperous.

3. So what does Brno and the whole region earn on? Brno can be attributed to the leading economic centers of the Czech Republic; in 2011, at the 21st MIPIM Real Estate and Investment Opportunities Fair, the city received 3 prestigious awards in the nomination "City of the Future".

Brno is the engineering center of the Czech Republic. Production facilities are concentrated mainly in the new industrial areas: Chernovska Terrace, Czech Technology Park, Modzice Industrial Zone, Slapanice Industrial Zone and others.

The most important branch of the city's economy is heavy engineering. In addition, the chemical and printing industries, machine tool building, the production of turbines, the Zetor tractor plant and the production of electrical products are developed here; instrumentation, petrochemical and gas equipment companies UNIS, Zbrojovka Brno - production of firearms, cars, agricultural machinery, office and computer equipment. Textile, food, cement industry. Woodworking and furniture production.

International industrial exhibitions are often held in Brno: tourist, industrial, financial, exhibitions of dogs and military equipment.

I have listed only a part of the industries. Based on our personal experience, we can say that the companies from Brno that we cooperate with or have encountered in the Czech Republic are the most efficient, and the employees in them, unlike Prague, work seven days a week, are more flexible, and you can always agree on something normally with them .

4. Briefly about the history of the region. Once upon a time, this region was inhabited by the Celts, then the Celtic tribes left, then there were the Germanic tribes, who were eventually replaced by the Slavs, and eventually the state of Great Moravia was formed, which existed from 822 to 907. During the period of greatest power, Great Moravia included the territories of modern Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, as well as Lesser Poland, part of Ukraine and the historical region of Silesia. Then there were numerous wars, for example, with the Hungarians. Then Moravia had an imperial margraviate as part of the Holy Roman Empire, then the Hussite wars, joining the Habsburg empire. And only in 1782 Moravia was united with Austrian Silesia into one administrative unit with the center in Brno. And in 1849 it was allocated to the special crown land of Austria-Hungary. Moravia had its own parliament, in which representatives (Czechs and Germans) were elected in ethnically divided constituencies. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918, Moravia became part of Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia at that time consisted of four equal lands - the Czech Republic (Bohemia), Moravia, Slovakia and Subcarpathian Rus.

In 1938-1939, after the Munich Agreement, Moravia was occupied by Germany and entered the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. After World War II, Moravia returned to Czechoslovakia. Since 1993 it has been part of the Czech Republic.

Currently, Brno is the main city of the South Moravian Region, and in the Moravian-Silesian Region, the main city is Ostrava.

5. As befits a normal European city, public transport is developed in Brno, and on the streets you can find trams of different eras (the tram network was launched in 1869), modern buses and trolleybuses.

The train station and the bus station, of course, are present, trains pass through Brno, which follow to Prague or Berlin from Vienna, Hungary or Ljubljana.

There is an airport in Brno called Turany Airport. There are few regular flights - only to London and Munich. But charters in the summer regularly fly to popular resorts: Almeria, Antalya, Bodrum, Burgas, Corfu, Djerba, Erkan, Faro, Kavala, Kos, Marsa Alam, Monastir, Palma de Mallorca, Podgorica, Preveza, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Sharm El Sheikh, Tenerife South, Thessaloniki, Zakynthos. There are no flights from Russia to Brno, so if you need to get to Brno, fly to Prague (206 km), Vienna (134 km) or Bratislava (129 km).

6. Brno is a student city. Due to the presence in the region of a large number of enterprises and companies that need good specialists and engineers, there are 13 universities in Brno, the leading ones are Masaryk University (38,000 students), Brno University of Technology (22,000 students), the University of Defense, the University of Agriculture and Mendel Forestry, Brno Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Janáček Academy of Music.

7. Enough to load you with facts, let's go quietly for a walk around the city. As you can see from the previous photos of Brno, the buildings in the center are in excellent condition, there is no brokenness or any ugliness. In the photo you see a building - a bee palace. The name of the palace was due to the iron bee, which was placed on the dome of the building.

8. I noticed more than once in Prague and on the tracks that people from Brno love expensive powerful cars. I met an orange Hummer in Prague, Gelik tinted to zero, various sports cars, most often it was possible to determine by the sign that they were registered in Brno. Well, a Ferrari immediately catches your eye, which is also parked on the sidewalk. By the way, why go far if the Brno police even ordered a new BMW i8 for themselves, and the Brno police chief took the car. But bad luck happened: rather quickly, the BMW was smashed, and at night, and, judging by the protocol, the police chief was sitting in the passenger seat.

9. Compared to Prague, there are more cyclists in Brno and there are bike rentals.

10. We go out to one of the main squares of the city - Freedom Square. Here, as befits the main squares, there is a fountain, a museum, arcades with shops. In winter, a Christmas market is held here, much like the Christmas market in Prague.

11. The Brno Astronomical Clock is a rather clever creation that cost the city 0.4 million Euros. To know the time and understand how the clock works, you need instructions. In general, not all the townspeople liked this creative, and they began to call it dild.

12. On the square, as it should be in Europe, there is a Baroque Plague Column, on which a statue of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus is hoisted. The plague raged in Brno in 1679-1680.

13. In Brno, even sightseeing tours are free! The duration of the tour is 1.5 hours, the language of the tour is English.

14. Our walk continues. A cozy street with pubs, taverns and cafes is decorated with umbrellas. This design can be seen in St. Petersburg, Antalya, Jerusalem, London, Dubai, Nanjing, Astana.

15. The Protestant Red Church or the Evangelical Church of Jan Amos Comenius, built in the North German Gothic style. And what is this pink at the church?

16. We get closer, and it turns out that this is the Pink Tank (IS-2m Tank) - another art object of the famous, which is known for its provocative works, for example, ugly babies, a giant middle finger or a Horse sculpture.

17. The tallest building in the Czech Republic is AZ Tower, built in 2013. The height of the skyscraper is 111 meters, currently there are company offices, shops and apartments. By the way, an apartment of 112 sq. meters at a price of 322,000 Euros (the price of 1 square meter is 3,000 Euros). The view of the bathhouse opens from the observation deck at the Špilberk castle, which I will talk about in the next article.

18. There are also homeless people in Brno, and judging by the books, homeless people love to read.

19. As soon as it was time for lunch, we went to the restaurant at the Starobrno brewery Pivovarská Starobrno at Mendlovo nám. 158/20. The brewery was founded in 1325 and still brews excellent classic beers. We took the traditional and unfiltered. A lunch of soup, two courses and two glasses of beer cost us 12 Euros, and the prices, in principle, are the same as in Prague. We liked the modern clean rooms and decor of the restaurant. The brewery organizes excursions where you can learn about all the brewing processes. The cost of the tour is 12 Euro.

20. We noticed that in the center of Brno there are no Vietnamese evening shops, unlike other cities. Those that we met are traditionally Czech. Well, you can't find coffee for 15 CZK (0.6 Euro) in Prague either.

21. Balconies in Europe are beautiful, in the center you can’t see balconies littered with skis, winter tires and all sorts of incomprehensible junk.

22. Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul (Brno) - a majestic beautiful cathedral of the diocese of Brno, located on a cliff. The cathedral belongs to the national cultural monuments of the Czech Republic. Architectural style: baroque, neo-gothic. The height of the cathedral is 84 meters, the observation deck near the cathedral offers an excellent view of the city.

23. The cathedral is clean, there are many shops, greenery.

24. Then the eye fell on a massive building near the station, which is called Malá Amerika.
Little America is a very high quality decorative historical industrial building located in the freight section of the Brno railway station. Previously, warehouses were located here, now the city authorities are thinking what to do with the building, while film screenings and dance evenings are sometimes held here.

25. Street humor. It is written that this is Vaclav Havel Street (the first president of the Czech Republic). "And who are you?" asks Vaclav Klaus (second president of the Czech Republic). And then the phantom appears. Judging by Instagram, this work appeared a long time ago.

26. Another unusual sculptural group of eagles.

27. And we are heading to the second most important square in Brno - the Cabbage Market. The photo of the square is the title photo of the post. On the square there is a fountain, cafes, restaurants, small shops, for example, a shop with Moravian cheeses, which are prepared according to Italian technology. We drank coffee and desserts at Cafe Momenta and headed off to the side.

28. Not the whole city left a good impression, because if you go down into the passage near the main station and walk towards the shopping center, you can enjoy trash: the smell of grilled chicken (it seems that every second kiosk sells them here), Vietnamese selling all sorts of consumer goods, graffiti, incomprehensible people staggering around drunk and all this to the music of screaming musicians. It was as if in the late 90s I found myself in some kind of Moscow transition.

From the best guides!

About the strong walls of Brno in the past, more than one commander “broke his teeth”. The city was tested for strength by the Hussites, Swedes, Turks and the Prussian army. Only the cunning Napoleon did not besiege the bastions in vain, but simply ordered the strong ring of defensive walls to be blown up. Today, on the site of the former fortifications, there is a ring road.

Brno is surrounded by a picturesque green plain, where medieval castles are lost. And in the city itself, a tourist will definitely have something to occupy his time with: the old squares and quarters beckon to look around the corner, make another turn and get off the intended route. City cathedrals still remember melodic chants of past centuries. Their eerie crypts, as before, are full of dark secrets.

The best hotels and hostels at affordable prices.

from 500 rubles/day

What to see and where to go in Brno?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

The castle was built in the 13th century and first served as the residence of kings and margraves. By the 17th century, it began to acquire baroque features and lose its Gothic appearance. During the Austrian monarchy, a prison for dangerous criminals was organized on the territory of Špilberk. The gloomy dungeon worked until the middle of the 19th century. He "became famous" as the most severe dungeon of the Austrian Empire. Today, the castle houses an exposition of the city museum.

Functionalist villa built by architect L. M. van der Rohe in the 1930s. He also worked on the interior design of the building. In 2001, the building was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The villa was built from exotic materials using advanced technologies at that time, so its construction cost a decent amount. The owners of the building left the country in 1938, so over time it became the property of the city.

Freedom Square is the largest in Brno and one of the oldest. It appeared in the distant XIII century. In the Middle Ages, it was surrounded by the houses of wealthy citizens, which were rebuilt in the neo-Renaissance style in the 19th-20th centuries. In the middle of the square stands the Plague Column monument, erected in 1648 after the liberation of Brno from the Swedish troops and the threat of the plague.

Since the 13th century, vegetables and poultry have been traded on the square, which is why it got its name. Over time, magnificent palaces surrounded it, but the bazaar regularly continued to work (it still exists today). In the center of the square there is a baroque fountain "Parnassus" of the 17th century. The sculptural group depicts three civilizations: Greek, Persian and Babylonian. Europe sits in the middle on a defeated dragon.

The Brno Town Hall was built in 1240 in the Gothic style. Until 1935, its appearance changed, acquiring elements of the Baroque and Renaissance. The city council has been sitting in this building since the end of the 14th century. In the 20th century, he moved to a new location. Today, the town hall houses the cultural center of Brno, where exhibitions and various events take place. Tourists at the entrance are met by locals in national costumes.

Catholic church in honor of the holy apostles. According to sources, it was founded in the XI-XII (XIII) centuries. At first it was built in the Romanesque style, and a few centuries later it was rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style. The interior of the cathedral is made in the Baroque style. Two symmetrical towers 84 meters high were erected at the beginning of the 20th century according to the project of A. Kirstein. The building is recognized as one of the most valuable architectural monuments of South Moravia.

The monastery is located on the square of the same name, which at first glance does not attract the attention of a tourist. Only the monastery church in the Baroque style is available for inspection, the rest of the buildings are not so easy to get to. Inside the monastery there is a crypt with the mummies of the first monks. The brothers were buried here in this form until the prohibition decree of Joseph II of Habsburg. Today the tomb is open to the public.

The church was built in the 13th century in the Gothic style. In the 16th century, a Renaissance tower over 90 meters high was added to it. Not so long ago, the remains of more than 50 thousand people were discovered in the temple catacombs. The fact is that the local cemetery was filled in the Middle Ages and the old bones were simply piled under the slabs of the church to make room for new graves. So over time, a large ossuary was formed.

In the museum you can look at a collection of vintage local cars, rare clockwork, cameras, typewriters and other devices. It also presents the achievements of the aviation industry and the field of computing technology. The collection is located in 11 themed rooms and occupies a rather impressive area. The museum has a library, a lecture hall and a scientific laboratory.

The museum collection occupies as many as five buildings: Prazhuk and Mistrodzhitelsky palaces, Yurkovic's villa, J. Hoffmann's house and another city mansion. The Moravian Gallery is considered the second most important in the Czech Republic after the National Gallery in Prague. In addition to paintings, it exhibits objects of decorative and applied art: ceramics, textiles, glassware and other masterpieces created by Czech masters.

The museum was founded in 1817. Today it is the largest and oldest in Moravia. Its collection contains about 6 million copies, which are located in several buildings. The main exposition is located in the baroque mansion of the 17th century - the Dietrichstein Palace. He became famous for the fact that the reigning persons stayed here, and also Field Marshal M.I. Kutuzov stayed for several days.

A unique exposition that tells about the culture and life of the Moravian gypsies. The museum opened in 2003 after collecting exhibits from all over the Czech Republic and neighboring countries for a future exhibition for 12 years. Its appearance was made possible thanks to state funding and private donations from the settled gypsies of Brno. The museum has a library where rare documents and books are stored.

A science and entertainment complex designed to draw the attention of visitors to the sciences and popularize natural science. The main focus of attention, of course, is on the Cosmos - its properties, mysteries, problems and prospects. The complex includes a large and small planetarium, an observatory equipped with modern telescopes, an "explorarium" and an observation deck.

Scientific and experimental center, where there is a lot of interesting things for adults and children. Visitors can conduct their own experiments here with the help of exhibits and study natural phenomena, comprehend physical laws. Sometimes colorful shows are held in the center, where complex phenomena are told in a playful way, but these performances are given only in Czech.

The building of the theater stage was built at the end of the 19th century according to the design of the Austrian masters G. Gellner and F. Felner in a mixed style with elements of neo-baroque, neo-renaissance and neoclassicism. The theater had electric lighting, which at that time was a great luxury. Today, dramatic performances take place on the stage, the troupe of the Brno National Theater performs here.

Brno Opera Stage, founded in 1965. The name is given in honor of the Czech composer. An architectural competition for the best design of the future theater was held from 1910 to 1957. As a result, a laconic and functional project without any classical or baroque elements won. The auditorium is designed for 1300 people. Since its foundation, more than 20 ballet and opera premieres have taken place on the stage.

The karst massif is 25 km long and 2 to 6 km wide. There are more than 1000 caves on its territory, but only 4 of them are open to the public: Balcarka, Punkva, Stolbno-Shoshuvskaya and Katarzynska. This natural attraction is equally in demand among tourists and local residents. The Moravian Karst is one of the most impressive cave systems in all of Europe.

Natural monument in the vicinity of Brno in the Moravian Karst. Residents of the city and surrounding villages believed for a long time that the abyss had no bottom at all, until at the beginning of the 18th century the local monk Lazar Shopper descended into it. But people still continued to tell dark stories about this place. The fault was formed as a result of the collapse of the vaults of a large cave. Its length is about 180 meters, the maximum depth is 135 meters.

Medieval castle 13 km from Brno, located on a green cape near the Brno reservoir. It is one of the oldest and largest in the entire Czech Republic. According to legend, Veverzhi was founded in the 11th century by Konrad I of Brno. The building survived several sieges and reconstructions. During the Second World War, it was destroyed during the fighting. Large-scale restoration began already in the 21st century.

The family property of the noble Pernstein family, located about 40 km from Brno on a rocky hill. Here the family lived until the end of the 16th century. The building was erected in the 13th century in the Gothic style. Over the following centuries, slight changes were made to its appearance. Today, tourists see a castle of the 16th century. In the past, it often became a film set for historical films.

The second name of the castle is Austerlitz, after the city known since the Napoleonic Wars. The very first building stood on the site of a Baroque palace as early as the 13th century. Then it was remade in the Renaissance style, but only by the beginning of the 19th century acquired the features of an elegant and magnificent baroque. It was in Slavkov in 1805 that France and Austria signed an agreement after the devastating (primarily for the Russian Empire) Battle of Austerlitz.

Memorial complex dedicated to the numerous victims of the Battle of Austerlitz. The main object of the composition is the Mound of Peace, which is located on the battlefield and rises above the surrounding landscape. The monument looks like a mound. There is a cross on its top, and at the edges there are figures with shields, symbolizing the countries participating in the battle. Inside the mound there is a chapel and a crypt.

The menagerie appeared in Brno in 1937. In 1953 it moved to its current location. More than 300 species of animals (1500 thousand individuals) live in the zoo. The number of guests is growing as the animals have offspring. The local collection of birds and reptiles deserves special attention. For children, there is a mini-zoo with piglets, goats and tame rabbits that you can pet.

The park is located near the historical center of Brno. Since the 16th century, it has been known as the "Jesuit Garden", since earlier these lands belonged to the Order of St. Ignatius. After the abolition of this monastic association, according to the imperial decree, the park was transferred to the city. By that time, it required renovation, which was done by the head gardener of Brno A. Bisinger. In 1788, Luzhanki opened to the public.

Fireworks parade, which takes place annually in Brno. Thousands of tourists come to admire this spectacle. The festival usually lasts two weeks. Within its framework, evening colorful shows are organized every day, where participants blow up the most bizarre fireworks, trying to impress the jury and the audience. There are other interesting events in the parade program.