 Despite being tagged with the unfortunate label of a dead-end industrial city with little of interest, Brno’s reputation is somewhat undeserved. True, this medieval industrial centre has more than your average number of smokestacks, factories and Communist-era architecture, but beneath the surface and hidden down small side streets are some fascinating sights and wonderful communities, all of which help to make a visit to the Czech Republic’s second largest city well worth the time.
 Like many European cities, Brno has a wonderful medieval Old Town at its core. This is by far the highlight of the city and the place where visitors will find most of the attractions and ambiance which make up for the city’s drab industrial side. Neoclassical and Empire architecture abound, with some of the country’s best museums outside of Prague and a growing dining and nightlife scene. The hilltop Spilberk Castle, underground catacombs of the Capuchin Monastery, and a handful of impressive Gothic churches are as interesting as you’ll find anywhere else in the country.
 Outside the city, there are endless swathes of woodlands, vineyards, farmland and bizarre karst formations. Although the city itself offers little in the way of recreation outside of its obsession with motor sports, a quick trip out of town will put you back in the heart of nature. As the capital of Moravia, Brno has a unique role in the regional history of this part of Central Europe. With more than 800 years of uninterrupted life, the future looks bright as the city’s emphasis continues to switch from industry to more cultural endeavours.
 You will find a wide range of accommodation options ranging from small family run guest houses to some high class luxury hotels. International chains such as Holiday Inn and Great Western have found their way to the city, although service in most establishments is good and facilities exceptional. Long gone are the days of drab bed and breakfasts and questionable service. Families are welcome and many couples choose to visit the city for romantic breaks. Regardless of your taste and budget, you will find something which suits.
History
 Brno started its contemporary life around the year 1000 AD when a group of settlers established a fort along the banks of the Svratka River. Within the next century the Premyslid Prince, who did not actually hold any real power, built a castle here and used Brno as his seat of governance. It wasn’t until 1243, when the King of Bohemia Vaclav I acknowledged Brno as a Moravian town that things really got going. A number of small market towns sprouted around the city, allowing regional trade to flourish. Foreign immigrants soon followed from other parts of Europe, settling in specific parts of town and enclosing the city with walls as was the trend of the day. Five gates allowed the flow of people and goods into Brno and a number of churches and monasteries helped accommodate their spiritual needs.
 The original Spilberk Castle was remodelled in the popular Gothic style and by the 14th century, Brno became the seat of power for the Moravian Margraves who controlled the region. This prestige, along with its role in political matters and its new privilege to hold annual markets sparked the first great boom in the city’s history. Brno proved its loyalty to the Moravian realm by siding with King Zikmund during the Hussite Wars of 1428 and 1430. Later, during the Thirty Years’ War in 1643, the city repelled repeated sieges by the Swedes which helped the Austrians win that war for regional control. As a reward, Brno kept its privileges to operate as a city and continued to be one of Europe’s most impregnable fortresses. It was the Prussians who next tried to conquer Brno in 1742 and again they were repelled. The reward this time was the establishment of a bishopric, which during those days meant serious clout for any European city.
 Brno’s next phase of life was as an important Moravian industrial centre during the 18th and 19th centuries. With the arrival of the first train in 1839, production and trade reached new heights. But this period also saw the rampant growth of suburban development. Brno’s ancient city walls came down and the old Spilberk Castle was turned into a notorious prison where political troublemakers for the Austrian Empire were left to rot. The period of the First Republic (1918 to 1938) was a prosperous time for Brno. Masaryk University was established, the Czech armoury was moved there and the Brno Fairgrounds held a big cultural exhibition.
 This prosperity was not to last because WWII unfortunately wrecked major damage on the city and the Nazi occupation was a time of terrible atrocities for the Czech citizens who lived there. Although no longer run by communist standards, Brno still lacks much of the cultural and artistic vigour found in neighbouring Prague. Until the few cultural highlights are better promoted and expanded, Brno will likely continue to languish as an industrial dinosaur.
Weather
 Brno experiences a temperate climate similar to the rest of the Czech Republic. Winters are cold and grey, while summers are mild and generally sunny. However, due to its location in the southeast of the country, between the Southern Moravian lowlands and the Bohemian-Moravian highlands, it gets slightly better weather overall. Most of the precipitation falls during the spring and summer in the form of afternoon thunderstorms, although the occasional low pressure system will park itself over the region bringing multiple days of cloudy, rainy conditions.
 Winters are quite cold and the city often sees more than its fair share of snow. Due to the constant frigid temperatures this snow tends to stick on the ground longer than anyone would prefer. The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn make good times for a visit. The weather is generally pleasant, especially in the autumn, and the tourist crowds are significantly lower than during the summer high season. If you can bear the brutal winter conditions, you’ll likely have Brno to yourself. However, some attractions could be closed during this time.
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