History

The following information is from the city of Brno’s website. For more information visit: http://www.brno.cz/

Brno, the Czech Republic’s second largest city, has a population of nearly 370,000 people. It lies in the central part of Europe and within its two hundred-kilometre radius there are other important European capitals: Prague, Vienna and Bratislava.

Brno is the metropolis of Moravia and an important tourist center for all who want to explore the natural and cultural beauties of the South-Moravian region.

To the north of Brno there is the protected area of the Moravian Karst (Moravský kras) and to the south stretch the Moravian vineyards with their typical wine cellars. The city is surrounded by beautiful mixed forests, which offer many opportunities for tourism and cycling.

The Punkva Caves

Brno prides itself on many notable historic sites that show evidence of its rich cultural history.

Once established as a settlement of merchants eight centuries ago on the junctions of the rivers Svratka and Svitava, it withstood the pressure of both the Hussite and Swedish besiegement, witnessed Napoleon‘s military expedition to Slavkov, bore the cruel consequences of the Austrian defeat at the Battle of the Three Emperors, became an industrial centre of the Habsburg monarchy called "the Austrian Manchester".

In the twentieth century, Brno gained a character of a modern city thanks to the construction of new buildings in the functionalist style. The most important example of modern architecture in Brno is The Tugendhat Villa - a historic site inscribed on the UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage List.

Today Brno is a seat of universities and important judiciary institutions.

Brno offers many possibilities of cultural enjoyment in its numerous theatres, museums, cinemas and clubs. The Brno Exhibition Centre with its eighty-year tradition is a venue of many international trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses, and as such plays a significant role in the social and economic life of the whole city.

The City of Brno regularly holds various cultural events, festivals (e.g. "Brno - City in the Centre of Europe" associated with a fireworks competition "Ignis Brunensis") as well as some notable sporting events (Brno Grand Prix for road motorcycles). Brno is also a city of modern shopping and entertainment centers.

Holidays in the Czech Republic (2012)

*Dates*	*Holidays*	*Explanations*
January 1	Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State	Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia
April 9	Easter Monday
May 1	Labour Day	International observances began with the Haymarket Riot in Chicago
May 8	Liberation Day Czech Republic	The end of World War II in Europe
July 5	St Cyril and Methodius Day	Slavic missionaries Cyril (Constantine) and Metod (Methodius) came to Great Moravia
July 6	Jan Hus Day	The anniversary of the martyrdom of Jan Hus
September 28	St Wenceslas Day	Day of the Czech statehood
October 28	Foundation of the independent Czechoslovak State	Marks the creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918.
November 17	Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day	Commemorating student demonstrations in 1939 and 1989
December 24	Christmas Eve	Christmas presents are opened in the evening on Christmas Eve in Slovakia
December 25	Christmas Day	First Christmas Holiday
December 26	St Stephens Day	Second Christmas Holiday

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