CONGRESS – BRNO
Brno
Brno is a statutory city, the second largest city in the Czech Republic in terms of population and area, the largest city in Moravia, with a population of approximately 396,000 and an area of 230km2. Brno is the center of the judicial power of the Czech Republic and an important centre of higher education with 29 faculties of ten universities and other colleges with almost 65 thousand students. It has a well-developed textile and engineering industry. The most important landmarks of the city include the Špilberk Castle and Fortress on the hill of the same name and the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul on Petrov Hill. A significant monument of interwar architecture is the functionalist Villa Tugendhat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Accompanying programme
Villa Tugendhat (Unesco)
Architectural purity, the connection between interior and exterior, timeless technical equipment, noble and exotic materials and, above all, a high level of conservation - these are the main attributes that led to the inscription of Villa Tugendhat on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001. Villa Tugendhat was built in 1929-1930 for Greta and Fritz Tugendhat to a design by the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Its history is at least as fascinating as its cultural significance.
Špilberk Castle
Špilberk Castle has been an inseparable landmark of the city of Brno for more than 700 years, a symbol of monarchical power and human suffering, a royal castle, the seat of the Moravian margraves, an impregnable fortress, the heaviest prison of the Habsburg monarchy, the barracks of several armies and currently the seat of the Brno City Museum.
LABYRINTH UNDER THE VEGETABLE MARKET
A mysterious underground labyrinth through the oldest cellars in Brno. This labyrinth of corridors and cellars, located up to 8 metres below the cobblestones of one of Brno's most charming squares, will take you back to the Middle Ages, when cellars were used instead of refrigerators.
OSSUARY AT THE CHURCH OF ST JAMES
The number of remains discovered makes it the second largest in Europe, after the catacombs of Paris. Located under the church of St James, the Ossuary is a place of remembrance with a mystical atmosphere. It was used to bury the skeletal remains of those buried in it, which were then freed to bury others.
Old Town Hall
An important historical building in the centre of Brno. Today, the Old Town Hall mainly serves cultural purposes, as it houses a gallery, an information centre and a permanent exhibition on the history of the city. In the summer you can visit its historic halls and climb the 63-metre tower to enjoy an impressive view of Brno from the top. The courtyard serves as a venue for various concerts, festivals, theatre performances and film screenings.
Bunker 10-Z
10-Z is the code name of the most secret Brno shelter from the communist era (1959) for political representatives of the city and region. The shelter in Husova Street was built during the Nazi era as an air-raid shelter against American and Soviet bombing of Brno. The total length of the corridors including emergency exits is almost 600 metres, the longest central tunnel extends 126 metres under the Spilber hill from the level of Husova Street and the shelter has 65 rooms on an area of 1,500 square metres.
Mendel Museum
Mendel Refectory – Augustinian Library. Wonder at the impressive Art Nouveau décor and unique mosaic floor of the dining hall, as you start your tour of exclusive locations within the Augustinian abbey. Explore the history of the monastery, learn about its founder and the notable figures who lived here. Understand how faith and science can co-exist in the Baroque library that holds some 27,000 volumes.
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