Brno Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Brno

Brno is the second-largest city in the Czech Republic. Located in the South Moravian Region, it is the center of Czech's judiciary and the former capital of Moravia.

Brno is known for its exhibition center, one of the largest in Europe. It is also known for its international fireworks competition, Fire of Brno. The long history of fireworks and pyrotechnics are seen in the Spilberk Castle museum.

The first settlement in the area was Old Castle, which was in place from the Neolithic Age through the 11th century. Brno was established in 1091. It was recognized as a royal city in 1243.

Attempts to take over the city were carried out many times over the centuries, including sieges on Brno carried out by the Swedes and the Hussites. They were all unsuccessful.

German occupation took over Czech lands during World War II. The Gestapo held their headquarters at the Masaryk University Faculty of Law and turned the residence halls into prisons. A detainment camp for Auschwitz was located in Brno with mostly Polish and Romani people. Roughly 10,000 Jews were taken from Brno to Auschwitz.

At the end of the war, when Czechoslovakia was made independent, Moravia was no longer independent, and Brno ceased being the capital. A new focus was placed on the industry. Once the communist rule was no longer in place, Brno flourished in culture and technology.

Visitors to Brno will find a great deal of history and art while touring the city. The Moravian Museum displays the culture of the region, while the Brno Ossuary is a must-see location that contains the bones of over 50,000 residents.

The medieval Spilberk Castle and the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul are two of the most important buildings in the city. They are often viewed as symbols of Brno. Both are open to the public. Likewise, Villa Tugendhat is a much-visited building due to its amazing feats in modern architecture. Built in the early 20th century, Villa Tugendhat was constructed with modern air conditioning and retracting glass walls.

Take this self-guided walking tour to see these and many other impressive places in Brno, Czech Republic.