Nice places in Brno and aroundLook at http://www.ticbrno.cz/index.php. Watch also this nice 13-minute video about Brno and its surroundings (http://www2.brno.cz/download/kp/Brno_1en.wmv). In BrnoBrno is not such a touristic place as Prague, but there are still some nice things to see. Honza recommends:
Petrov Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul is located on the top of this hill, known as Petrov, on the presumed site of the former Brno castle (including a chapel) that dates from the 11th and 12th centuries. After the castle`s demise the free-standing Romanesque basilica was rebuilt as a Gothic cathedral in the 13th century, further modified in the 15th and 16th centuries, and converted to the Baroque style in the 18th century. Its current neo-Gothic form dates from the turn of this century. Since 1777 the cathedral has been the seat of the Brno bishopric. The original church crypt from the 12th century is now accessible to visitors. Spilberk Castle and fortifications
The castle was built in the first half of the 13th century on top of a hill bearing the same name. The original building often changed hands and the medieval part was later rebuilt. In the 18th century Spilberk was transformed into an enormous Baroque fort which also became a feared prison, with the casemates being particularly notorious. It became the place of grim, lenghty suffering for French revolutionaries, Italian carbonari, adherents of the Young Italy movement as well as Czech political prisoners. The prison was also a place of terror during the second world war. Since 1961 Spilberk has been a museum under the administration of Brno city and is used for exhibition purposes. The former prison cells and casemates are also open for viewing. Old Town Hall
The city administration was situated in this, the oldest secular building in Brno until 1935. The historical origins of the building go back to around 1240. Before 1510 the tower entrance was hoded-through to the courtyard which A. Pilgram decorated with a stone portal with reliefs of heralds and town dwellers. The original allegory of justice was replaced in 1660 by the present statue. At that time the city´s new coat of arms was added to the protal which Brno acquired in 1646. The portal closes the original Late-Gothic gate. The tower lies on early Gothic foundations, its roofing is a copy of the original renaissance roof. The town hall building was damaged during the Swedish wars and its repair, completed in 1660, was accredited to the Brno architect Jan Křtitel Erna. Castle Veveri
The extensive castle area above the Brno dam originated at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries and hunting castle of the Moravian margraves. Since the end of the 20th century an extensive reconstruction has been performed, so offering to the visitors is an interesting comparison of the changing sightseeing routes and comparison of the repaired parts of the area with those that will wait for the restoration. Useful links
Outside BrnoIn case you are interested, ask the organizers for advices on how to reach non-Brno destinations.
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