Brno, the capital of Moravia, is the Czech Republic’s second largest city.  Situated 200 km from Prague on the western edge of the region, Brno is a major thoroughfare between points east and south.  Called Brunn in German, it is famous for its Brunn-Liverpool rifle.  But more than this, Brno is representative of the modern Czech Republic.  It is a demonstration fo how old and new collide, sometimes not with the best results, but always teaching a lesson.

Brno has always been a religious stalwart in the region as evidenced by its numerous churches and monasteries.  Founded in the year 1000, it became a major player in the time of the great Hungarian king, Mathias Corvinus.  It has played a n important role first in the defense of Catholicism against the Hussites, and then was part of a doomed attempt against the Hapsburg dominion.  But Brno is probably most known for its most famous native son: the Augustinian monk and founder of the science of genetics, Gregor Mendel.

Today, the visitor will find a city with a well-preserved historical center, surrounded by a more modern Stalinist architectural statement.  It is the center of life in Moravia and is also host to the Czech Republic’s only motor speedway.