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- Brno, the second largest city (pop. 400,000) in the Czech Republic, combines the vibrancy of a university city with a rich history.
- The city traces its history far into the past: the rich lands between the Svratka and Svitava Rivers brought the first Slavic settlements to the locality as early as the 6th century. City walls and towers, the churches of St. Peter and St. James, and several monasteries were constructed in the 13th century. The architectural legacy from the past is still present today, and the spires of the churches, together with the towers and walls of Spilberk Castle, which dates back to the 13th century, help form the unmistakable profile of the city. Cultural crossroads and trade routes have long connected Brno with a number of other important European cities, in particular Vienna.
- The industrial revolution of the 18th century transformed Brno into a centre of the textile and machine industries, and in the following century the city assumed a key industrial role in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1839 Brno became the first city to be connected to Vienna by railway and, in 1847, by telegraph lines. As the city outgrew its identity as a fortress town, a grand circular boulevard and a series of parks took the place of the old town walls. Spilberk Castle ceased to be the ominous "Prison of Nations", filled with political prisoners from throughout the Austrian Empire, and began the long transformation to its present state. Its walls now contain museums and galleries and serve as the backdrop to numerous festivals.
- Brno is now home to six universities and around 75,000 students. From a foundation of great intellectual potential and a strong electronic infrastructure, Brno is working to build synergy between industry and education. Euro magazine recently referred to Brno as "Silicon Hill". Now, as the Czech Republic moves toward becoming part of the European Union, Brno is ready to assume once again the role of a great Central European city, international in flavor yet rooted in its local Moravian heritage.
Links to more information about Brno and the Region:
- Official Brno Website
- Photo Galleries from the Czech Mountains
- Virtual Tourist visits Brno
- The South Moravian Region