Brno is the second largest city in Czech Republic, population about 400000, and also a capital of Moravia, the eastern half of the country. Since my village is located about 30 km north of Brno, the city is easily accessible. It has a rich history, with the downtown area that has been in the place since 14-15th century. However, many of the original houses were torn down in the following centuries, so the city does not have such a historic look as for example Prague. However, there are several good spots. West of the downtown, on a hill overlooking the city, is the castle Špilberk, which provides great views at the city. From ca. 18th century, the castle was turned into a prison, that housed many major opponents of the Habsburg monarchy. Part of the cassemates, where were the prison cells, are now also accessible for public. The upper parts of the castle house several museums. We spent about half day in the castle, and the rest of the day walking through the center, visiting the St. Peter and Paul cathedral, a monastery and just strolling by.
The main entrance gate to castle Špilberk.
The moat around the main castle, on this level are the cassemates, which housed the prisoners.
Two shots from the prison area.
Gate to the upper castle.
Bridge to the upper castle, which houses museums.
Panorama of Brno from the tower at Špilberk.
Zoomed panorama of Brno downtown from the tower at Špilberk.
View down from the tower in the moat below, and downtown above, St. Peter and Paul cathedral dominates the downtown.
Portal of St. Peter and Paul cathedral (Petrov) on a hill in the southern part of the downtown.
View through a street near Petrov down onto Cabbage Market - Zelný Trh (several squares in Brno downtown are named after the markets that have been there in the middle ages, other ones are Coal Market - Uhelný Trh and Grain Market - Obilní Trh).
View on Cabbage Market with two plague columns.
Dominican monastery, which houses exposition of mummified monks.
Freedom Square (Náměstí Svobody), the central square in Brno.U of U / CHPC / Cuma / Travel / English / Brno 01
URL: http://www.chpc.utah.edu/~mcuma/brno01e.html