We always visited Brno while passing through: once, returning from, we spent 1 hour there, but we never managed to walk around the city longer. Recently we had a free sunny day, and we decided to go and see how life is in the capital of Moravia - the city of Brno.

1. How to get from Prague to Brno

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

1. Train. Trains depart to Brno from. Tickets can be purchased in advance and at the station. Fare: 199-352 CZK. Travel time: 2.5 hours. Approximately 2-3 trains depart every hour to Brno. Moreover, in the Czech Republic there is no monopoly on railway transportation, and you can travel to Brno not only by trains of the Czech Railways, but also by comfortable private trains of LEO Express or RegioJet.
2. Bus. There are regular buses to Brno. You can get from Prague to Brno by buses of the following companies: 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 purchased on official websites or on a Russian-language website where prices from many companies are compared. The buses are comfortable, have a toilet, air conditioning and entertainment systems. In Brno, buses most often arrive at the bus station near the Grand Hotel (AN u hotelu Grand).
3. Automobile. You can get to Brno by private or. The road takes the same 2.5 hours. The distance between the cities of Prague and Brno is 206 km, and you cannot get to Brno faster than a bus, since the D1 motorway is constantly being repaired.

2. First, some numbers, because everyone loves numbers, and especially money! The population of Brno is 378,000 people. The city budget is 35 billion rubles. Whenever we visit a city, we always draw analogies with cities we have already visited or with our hometown. So, in my hometown with a population three times larger, the budget is 16 billion rubles. It is already clear from the numbers that the city is prosperous.

3. So how does Brno and the entire region make money? Brno can be considered one of 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 “City of the Future” category.

Brno is the engineering center of the Czech Republic. Production enterprises are concentrated mainly in new industrial zones: Cernovskaya Terrace, Czech Technology Park, Modzice Industrial Zone, Šlapanice Industrial Zone and others.

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

Brno often hosts international industrial exhibitions: tourism, industrial, financial, dog and military equipment exhibitions.

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

4. Briefly about the history of the region. Once upon a time, this region was inhabited by Celts, then the Celtic tribes left, then there were Germanic tribes, which were eventually replaced by the Slavs, and over time the state of Great Moravia was formed, which existed from 822 to 907. During the period of its 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 margrave as part of the Holy Roman Empire, then the Hussite wars, and entry into the Habsburg empire. And only in 1782 Moravia was united with Austrian Silesia into one administrative unit with its center in Brno. And in 1849 it was allocated as a special crown land of Austria-Hungary. Moravia had its own parliament, to 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 Ruthenia.

In 1938-1939, after the Munich Agreement, Moravia was occupied by Germany and became part of 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 from different eras (the tram network was launched in 1869), modern buses and trolleybuses.

The railway station and bus station are, of course, present; trains passing through Brno go 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 regularly fly to popular resorts in the summer: Almeria, Antalya, Bodrum, Burgas, Corfu, Djerba, Ercan, 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 being Masaryk University (38,000 students), Brno Technical University (22,000 students), Defense University, University of Rural and Mendel Forestry, Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University Brno, Janacek Academy of Music.

7. Stop burdening you with facts, let’s go for a calm walk around the city. As you noticed from the previous photos of Brno, the buildings in the center are in excellent condition, there is no breakdown or any ugliness. In the photo you see a building - a bee palace. The palace got its name thanks to the iron bee that was placed on the dome of the building.

8. I have noticed more than once in Prague and on the highways that people from Brno adore expensive, powerful cars. In Prague I met an orange Hummer, a zero-tinted Gelik, various sports cars, most often by the sign it was possible to determine that they were registered in Brno. Well, a Ferrari immediately catches my eye, which is also parked on the sidewalk. By the way, what’s too far to go if the Brno police even ordered a new BMW i8, and the car was picked up by the Brno police chief. But bad luck happened: the BMW was smashed quite quickly, and in the dark, 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, and 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 find out the time and understand the operation of the clock, you need instructions. In general, not all townspeople liked this creativity, and they began to call it a dildo.

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

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

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

15. Protestant Red Church or Evangelical Church of John Amos Comenius, built in the North German Gothic style. What is this pink thing at the church?

16. We get closer, and it turns out that this is the Pink Tank (Tank IS-2m) - 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 here. By the way, an apartment with an area of ​​112 square meters is now for sale in this building. meters at a price of 322,000 Euros (the price of 1 square meter is 3000 Euros). The view of the bathhouse opens from the observation deck at 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 like 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 excellent varieties of classic beer are still brewed here. We took traditional and unfiltered. Lunch of soup, two dishes and two glasses of beer cost us 12 Euros, and the prices are, in principle, 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 excursion is 12 Euro.

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

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

22. Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul (Brno) is a majestic and beautiful cathedral of the diocese of Brno, located on a cliff. The cathedral is one of the national cultural monuments of the Czech Republic. Architectural style: Baroque, neo-Gothic. The height of the cathedral is 84 meters; from the observation deck near the cathedral there is an excellent view of the city.

23. The cathedral is clean, there are a lot of benches and greenery.

24. Then my gaze fell on a massive building near the station, which is called Malá Amerika.
Little America is a very high quality decorative historical building of an industrial nature, located in the freight part of the Brno railway station. Previously there were warehouses here, now the city authorities are thinking about 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 the street of Vaclav Havel (the first president of the Czech Republic). "And who are you?" asks Vaclav Klaus (second President of the Czech Republic). And then Phantomas appears. Judging by Instagram, this creativity 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. Photo of the square – the title photo of the post. On the square there is a fountain, cafes, restaurants, small shops, for example, a store with Moravian cheeses, which are prepared using Italian technology. We had coffee and desserts at Cafe Momenta and headed out.

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

In Russian with the best guides.

The Czech Republic is a very interesting and picturesque country with amazingly beautiful cities. Brno occupies a special place among them: it is the second largest city in the country after Prague and the former capital of Moravia, the historical region of the country.

History of Brno

Brno is a city with a thousand-year history. Construction of the city began in the 11th century around the Špilberk castle-fortress, one of the main attractions of Brno. Thanks to its favorable location at the crossroads of trade routes, the city is quickly becoming a significant commercial and cultural center, which is also of strategic importance.

Main milestones in the history of the city:

• at the end of the 12th century - the center of the appanage principality of Přemyslids - the first royal dynasty of the Czech Republic;
• in 1243 received the status of a royal free city;
• at the end of the 13th century - the residence of the Moravian margraves;
• Since the 14th century, the affairs of the city have been governed by Moravian zemstvo diets;
• from 1526 to 1918 - the economic and cultural center of Moravia, which became part of the Habsburg Empire - Austria-Hungary;
• in the 19th century it became a large industrial city;
• from 1918 to 1992 – part of Czechoslovakia. During the war, the city suffered greatly from bombing by Anglo-American aircraft;
• since 1993 – part of the Czech Republic.

Only in Brno

You can't see Brno in one day. The city's attractions are very diverse and will interest representatives of all ages and hobbies. In addition, every year the city hosts numerous cultural events for different tastes, which also last more than one day.

Children will undoubtedly be delighted by the Ignis Brunensis fireworks parade and hot air balloon festival that take place every summer. Fans of theater and music will be delighted by theatrical and symphonic music festivals; theatrical performances are staged here every day. Alternative and youth music festivals are of interest to young people. Finally, in August, Brno Days take place, established in honor of the city’s successful defense against the Swedes in 1645 and accompanied by a theatrical reenactment of the fighting.

For history buffs, Brno is a real Klondike. The historical center of the city is a beautiful old city with numerous architectural attractions.

If travelers to historical places have time, they can devote a whole day to independently getting to the town of Slavkov u Brna (Austerlitz), near which the famous Battle of Austerlitz took place in 1805, or the Battle of the Three Emperors, which ended in the grandiose victory of Napoleon . In the town you can visit the Slavkov Castle Palace, a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic, and at the site of the battle there is a memorial, a chapel and a museum.

The uniqueness of the city's architectural appearance lies in the harmonious combination of several styles and national traditions: in it, Gothic coexists with Baroque and Renaissance, and the historical spirit of the Austro-Hungarian Empire echoes Czech culture.

Squares of Brno

In the ancient squares of the city, life is in full swing day and night. Magnificent historical buildings house numerous cafes and restaurants, and street musicians, performers and artists will always find something to entertain vacationing townspeople and tourists.

The most famous squares in Brno:

1. Cabbage Market Square (Green) is one of the oldest squares in the city; the first buildings on it appeared in the 13th century. Since ancient times, all kinds of goods have been traded here, and now you can find sellers of flowers, souvenirs, vegetables and fruits here. In the center of the square at the end of the 17th century, the Parnassus fountain was installed - an amazing masterpiece of the Baroque style. Another magnificent building in this style is Dietrichstein Palace. Nowadays, the palace building houses expositions and exhibitions of the Moravian Museum. On the square there are famous Czech theaters: the chamber theater “U Stolu”, the alternative “Goose on a Leash” and one of the oldest theaters in the Czech Republic “Reduta”. In 1767, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed on the stage of the Redoubt, and in honor of this event, a monument to this brilliant composer was erected in front of the theater.
2. Freedom Square is the oldest and largest square in the city. Originated in the 13th century. Fairs, concerts and performances were and are held here. In the center of the square in 1679, a plague pillar was erected - a type of religious monument common in Central Europe: a column on which a statue of the Virgin Mary was erected. The square contains the most interesting buildings and structures:
   • The house of the gentlemen from Lipe is one of the oldest buildings in the city, a beautiful structure in the Renaissance style (late 16th century);
   • Klein Palace is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Built in the mid-19th century using the latest technology of the time;
   • The house “At Four Blockheads” was built at the beginning of the 20th century. The house got its name from the strange facial expressions of the Atlanteans supporting its richly decorated façade;
   • the Omega Palace, a controversial modern building made of glass and concrete in the high-tech style;
   • watch of an unusual shape, reminiscent of a 6-meter bullet. The clock strikes every day at 11 o'clock, and a special mechanism pushes a glass ball out of the clock. There is an incredible stir around the building at this time;
   • a fountain decorated with poems by Ian Scales. Installed in 2006.

Interesting fact: Brno is called “Moravian Paris” for the beauty and sophistication of its architectural appearance.

Architectural monuments

The townspeople are proud not only of ancient buildings, but also of buildings made in modern architectural styles. Among the most interesting and significant buildings are:

1. Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul is the main attraction of Brno. This Gothic cathedral acquired its final appearance at the end of the 19th century - the beginning of the 20th century. The temple is decorated with two elegant 81-meter towers. The interior decoration is made in Baroque style and is luxurious and splendid. From the observation deck of the cathedral you can look at the panorama of the city and even see the plain on which the Battle of Austerlitz took place.
2. The old town hall, which served the city for its intended purpose for over five centuries - from the end of the 14th to the beginning of the 20th. The foundation of the building dates back to an even earlier time - the middle of the 13th century. In the arch of the town hall there are two unofficial symbols of Brno, attributes of the main urban legends - the wheel and the crocodile. The museum is now a museum.
3. Špilberk Castle was built as a defensive structure by the first Czech kings, and its fate reflected the entire history of Bohemia and Moravia. At the end of the 18th century, Emperor Joseph II turned part of the castle into a prison for enemies of the monarchy with the most unbearable conditions for prisoners. Now the fortress houses an exhibition of the Brno City Museum.
4. The ossuary of the Church of St. Jacob, which contains the remains of at least 50,000 people. In 2012, these mourning halls were opened to group visits.
5. Capuchin monastery, famous for the legendary “mummy crypt” - the burial place of monks of the Capuchin order. The unique microclimate of the tomb contributed to the natural mummification of bodies. In addition to the monks, the crypt contains the remains of representatives of the city's nobility. In Brno there was a belief that from this tomb it was easier to get to heaven.
6. Villa Tugendhat is the famous building of the classic modernist architecture Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The villa is a reference example of functional design.
7. The building of the Theater named after. Janacek is one of the buildings of the National Theater Brno, built in 1960-1965. At that time it was the largest and most technically equipped theater in the Czech Republic. Opera and ballet repertoire is performed on its stage.

Parks and natural attractions of Brno

Brno's largest park, Luzanky, is also the oldest public park in the entire Czech Republic. It was opened in the 18th century and furnished in Baroque style. Located near the historical center of the city. The 20-hectare park contains all species of Moravian plants, as well as rare and exotic trees and other plants.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Denis Gardens park was created - one of the oldest public parks in Moravia. This park is very popular among city residents, who appreciate it for its fresh air and magnificent views from the fortress walls located on the hill.

In the vicinity of Brno there is an amazing natural monument - the Moravian Karst - a landscape reserve under state protection.

The Moravian Karst is the largest karst cave system in Europe, comprising more than 1000 caves. Only five are open to the public, the most popular being the Puncture Cave. Here you can not only admire stalagmites, stalactites and helictites, but also take a ride along the underwater river flowing into the lake.

Brno is one of the most beautiful and comfortable cities in the Czech Republic, famous for its numerous churches and the charming atmosphere of antiquity. At the same time, it is a lively and artistic center of cultural life in the Czech Republic, bright and festive.

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

What can you see in Brno?

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

The city of Brno grew around the Spielberg castle complex in ancient times. The construction of the castle dates back to the 13th century. The decree to begin construction came from King Přemysl II.

The castle had two main functions: defensive and residential. The king established his own residence in the castle. In 1645, the strong walls of the castle were useful to the Czechs; they withstood the Swedish siege without much difficulty on the part of the defenders.

In the 17th century, Shpilberg served as a prison, which was nicknamed the “Dungeon of 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. In summer, the Spielberg gates are 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 fountain composition you can see the goddess of Europe, followed by statues of the three powers.

The vegetable market is still active today. It is attended by locals and visitors spending their holidays in Brno.

Impressions of castles and squares are often erased from memory, but surprise from 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 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 are still unexplored.

The following caves are open to the public in Moravian Kras:

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

Bats and lizards live in the dungeons of Krasus, 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 Saints 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 solace to the residents of Brno when the city was besieged by the Swedes. Today the church is no less important for the townspeople.

The cathedral houses a museum, an operating information center, and also hosts organ concerts. The building is located on Petrova Street and is open to visitors from 7 am.

Town Hall on Green Market Square

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

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

In the summer, under the arch of the town hall, a coin minter shows his work to tourists. The building houses a museum and 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 included in the UNESCO list as one of the best houses in the Art Nouveau style.

You can visit the villa on weekdays from 10 to 6 pm. It is sometimes open to the public on weekends. The building houses a museum and offers detailed tours.

Veveří Castle on the bend of two rivers

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

The castle was rebuilt in the 13th century. Used by crowned heads for hunting and country recreation. After the castle served as a prison, it was handed over to the city and a museum was organized there.

During the warm season, concerts, holidays and festivals are held in Veveri. It is better to go to the castle by taxi or private car. You can book an excursion from Brno, then delivery to its gates will be carried out by a comfortable bus. An excursion will cost a tourist 180 CZK, a single visit 30 CZK.

Church of St. Jacob on Jacob's Square

Here, students replace crowds of tourists, and the center resembles a rich medieval fair. One day in the capital of Moravia will exceed any expectations, because the city is rich in attractions, and, in addition, its relaxing atmosphere will undoubtedly lift your spirits.

What to see in Brno

The second city of the Czech Republic, Brno is home to most of the country's universities and therefore a student community that retains the youthful spirit of a city dating back to the 13th century. There are many museums, cinemas, clubs, exhibition halls and venues here, which turn Brno into the cultural and educational center of the country. An important part of the city is its legal component. The country's highest judicial institutions are located in Brno: the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Administrative Court and the Prosecutor General's Office. In recent decades, Brno has organized many international exhibitions, becoming one of the most popular exhibition centers in Europe.

As usual, the main attractions of the city are located in the historical center of the city. The Old Town Hall, dating from the 14th century, was the seat of local government until 1935. The new City Hall is also very beautiful, located in a Baroque palace, the foundation of which was laid in the Middle Ages. The tower of the old town hall, decorated with a cute dragon, which is a symbol of the city, is very popular among tourists and guests of Brno.

From the observatory of the tower you can clearly see the sharp peaks of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, the steep roofs of palaces, the colorful spiers of churches and, on a wooded slope, the silhouette of the famous Špilberk castle.

For centuries, people have come to the square next to the Old Town Hall to buy fresh vegetables, fruits or bouquets of fragrant flowers. The highlight of this place is the Parnas fountain, constructed at the end of the 17th century from huge boulders symbolizing a cave. Three allegorical sculptures that decorate the square are reminiscent of the great empires of the past: Babylon, Persia, Greece. The underground area of ​​the square hides a huge network of corridors and cellars used for storing food, beer and wine. This dungeon was opened to tourists in 2011.

Of course, the main spiritual attraction of Brno is the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. When you look at the high walls of the cathedral, built of brown brick, it seems that they pierce the sky. The Gothic style of the cathedral is the result of reconstruction, which it underwent in the 19th century.

The Evangelical Red Church of John Amos Kamensky was built in the neo-Gothic style of red brick. The interior decoration is austere and simple. A special feature of the temple is that it is decorated with sculptures by Franz Schonthaler. There is a pink tank next to the church, representing a kind of protest against global militarization.

Usually, Brno is crossed when going on vacation to Prague, the Moravian Karst, the Lednice-Valtice complex, but after staying here, tourists leave with a feeling of rebirth and emotional comfort. One day, on the one hand, is enough to get to know the city and at the same time is too short to do it in detail. After Prague with crowds of tourists, beggars and pickpockets, Brno is definitely a relaxing place. This city lives not for tourists, but for itself, for its residents, which is generally correct. However, if you go on an excursion with a local, you can probably cover all the sights in a day.

About Starobrno beer

Leaving the Czech land, it was impossible not to try the famous Moravian beer Starbrno, the history of which dates back to the 14th century, when King Wenceslas I granted the city of Brno royal privileges, one of which was the right to brew beer.

In 1323, light beer Eliška Rejčka na Starém Brně was brewed. The brewery was named Starobrno Brewery only in the second half of the 19th century. In 2009, Starobrno Brewery produced more than one million hectoliters of beer. In the same year, the brewery merged with the Royal Brewery Krušovice and became part of the Dutch brewing company Heineken.

You can try this beer in the branded beer hall, which is located at Na Kopci, 684 01 Kobeřice u Brna.

You can also take a tour of the brewery with an amber drink tasting at Hlinky 160/12.

Where to stay in Brno

Brno is not Prague and does not have so many hotels. However, if you decide to stay in the capital of Moravia for more than one day, then finding a good hotel or apartment will not be difficult. The best choice, in my opinion, is on the agoda service.

The beauty of South Moravia

On the road from Prague to Brno, especially in late spring and summer, you will be greeted by stunningly beautiful landscapes. Bright yellow rapeseed fields against a clear blue sky are the hallmark of Europe at this time of year.

Moreover, the gaze does not get tired of such a landscape. In this sense, May and, probably, June are the most fertile months for travel and especially road trips around Europe.

Brno is a city located in Moravia in the Czech Republic; it was the capital of this region from the 17th to the mid-20th century. It is the second largest city in the Czech Republic after Prague and one of the country's main tourist centers.

Brno was first mentioned in historical chronicles in the 11th century. Scientists believe that the name of the city comes from the common Slavic word “to defend.” Indeed, until the 19th century, Brno was of great importance in the defense of the south of the country.

What can a tourist see in Brno? Here we offer you the most interesting sights of Brno and the surrounding area with photos and brief descriptions. You can see this beautiful city in more detail only by going to Moravia.

This magnificent castle was built in the 13th century in the Gothic style. At first it was a royal residence. Over the course of many centuries, the castle was repeatedly reconstructed and rebuilt, and by the beginning of the 17th century it had a Baroque style.

During the Habsburg dynasty, when the city belonged to Austria, it was decided to organize a prison in Špilberk for particularly dangerous villains and criminals. So the castle turned into a dungeon for criminals until the mid-19th century.

Moreover, it gained fame as the most cruel prison in the entire Austrian Empire. And today it is one of the most popular historical and architectural monuments of the Middle Ages and Modern times among tourists.

This is the largest square in Brno, which appeared in the city in the 13th century. During the Middle Ages, this was the Market Square, around which the houses of the local nobility, merchants and wealthy citizens were built.

The most important deals were concluded on Freedom Square, the biggest events in the life of the city took place. In the 19th and 20th centuries it was reconstructed in the neo-Renaissance style and turned into one of the most beautiful places to relax in Brno.

In the center of the square is the Plague Column, erected in the middle of the 17th century, after the liberation of the city from Swedish troops and the plague. On Freedom Square you can also see many historical and modern buildings and structures.

Starting from the 13th century, a vegetable market was organized in this square. As Brno developed, Baroque palaces were built around the square. The market continues to function successfully today.

Here you can see the Parnassus fountain, designed and built at the end of the 17th century, see a sculpture of the goddess Europe and three sculptures depicting Babylon, Greece and Persia, go to a cafe or restaurant where you can taste European cuisine.

Near the Vegetable Market in Brno you can also see ancient palaces, several famous Czech theaters, many magnificent sculptural groups: the Holy Trinity, patrons of the city of the modern era, etc.

The City Hall was built in Brno in the mid-13th century and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It served the city for its intended purpose, as a city government body, for more than five hundred years.

Over the centuries, the Town Hall was rebuilt many times; it has retained many architectural styles: Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, etc. Inside you can find a stuffed crocodile, which, according to local legends, used to be a real dragon.

The court and other city bodies met in the Old Town Hall, there was a city archive, they received city guests, ambassadors, etc. Today it is simply a wonderful museum, and all the city bureaucrats have safely moved to the New Town Hall.

This Catholic church, dedicated to the holy apostles, was built in the 11th-13th centuries. Initially it had a Romanesque style, a structure in the form of a basilica, but after numerous reconstructions the cathedral bears an interweaving of neo-Gothic and Baroque.

The two towers of the cathedral were erected at the beginning of the 20th century. Today this iconic building is a valuable architectural monument and historical landmark of Brno and the entire Czech Republic.

Currently, this is an active cathedral church, religious services are regularly held there, and it belongs to the diocese of Brno. The cathedral is a must see in Brno for any tourist who comes to this city.

The most interesting thing in the monastery is the monks’ crypt, where their mummies are located. Many rich and noble people of Brno were ready to give everything they had in order to get into this crypt after death, because... it was believed that from there there was a direct road to heaven.

The Capuchins lived very modestly in their cells, and their temple amazed with its luxury: sculptures in the Baroque style, paintings on the walls by famous artists, objects made of gold for worship, etc.

Tourists are allowed to explore the church and the tomb of the monks. In addition to the remains of monks, you can see coffins containing mummies of representatives of noble families of Brno. Particular attention of tourists is attracted by the glass coffin with a mummy inside it.

The original Catholic cathedral was built in the 13th century in the traditional Romanesque style in the form of a basilica. Then it was rebuilt in the Gothic style that was fashionable in the 14th century, but the church was later demolished.

The modern church of St. Yakub is characterized by a baroque style. It has high windows and light walls, so there is always a lot of light in the temple. The church is operational and is accessible to tourists during services.

Several years ago, a huge ossuary was discovered in the basements of the temple. Scientists estimate that it contains the bones of about 50,000 people. These are the remains from a nearby medieval cemetery, which was cleared of old graves.

This famous art gallery occupies 5 buildings and is considered the second most culturally important in the Czech Republic after the Prague National Gallery. In addition to painting, here you can see ceramics, glass, and textiles from Czech masters.