BRNO, Czech Republic

Brno (Germ. Brunn) is the second in size city of Czechia, an administrative center of Southern Moravia region.
 

Terrytory:
230 sq. km

 

Population:369,5 thousand people (2003) 
 

Gegraphicposition

the city is situated in Southern Chechia at the place of junction of rivers Svitava and Svratka on the border of Southern Moravic valley and Czech Moravian highland.
 

For the first time it was mentionaf in the Xi century as a castle, though the territory of BRNO had been settled in the V century. The city played an important part in defence up to the middle of the XIX century. Shpilbergska fortress in Brno was one of the most famous prisons in Austria-Hungary (existed till 1858).
 

At the end of the XII century the city became a center of appanged principality of Przjhemyslovichi; in 1243 it received the rights of the royal free city and in the end of the XIIIcentury it became a residence of Moravian margraves. Since the XIV century the questions of local governing were solved by Moravian county seims which had taken place once for two years. During the Hussites revolt the city stayed loyal to the king.
 

As the possession of the Habsburgs (1526-`9`8) Brno had been the economy and cultural center of Moravia. A profitable geographic position influenced its development: the city had annual fairs.
 

During the Thirty Years’ War the city twice (in 1643 and in 1645) happened to be in the siege of Svedens, the city did not fall in front of Prussian army (1742). In 1777 Brno became a center of episcopate.
 

In the XIX century establishing of Brno industry occurred; the citybecame one of importamt centers of workers’ movement in Czechia.
 

In 1899 Brno received its own university (technological).
 

In 1918 Brno joined Czechoslovakia. During the World War II the city was ruined greately. It was delivered on the 26^th of April of 1945.
 

Now Brno is one of the most important economical centers of Czechia. The most important branch is heavy machinery. Chemical and polygraph industry are developed, producing of power tools, turbines, agricultural machines and electric products, precise tools are developed. Txtile, food, cement industries, woodworking industry and furniture producing are working.
 

Brno is alarge railway unit (the first train arrived to Brno in 1839).
 

Sometimes is called “Czech Manchester”.
 

There are centers of science and education located in Brno. They are: filliate of Czech Academy of Science, the university named by Masarik, Academy of Music Arts named by L. Yanachek; a range of museums: The City Museum, Moravian Gallery, Arts and Industry, the National Technical museum etc.
 

The main architectural sights are located in the historical central part of the city. It is a gothic cathedral of St. Peter and Paul (XIII-XX cnt.), St. Yan (XIV-XVIII cnt.), Gothic Old (XIV-XIV cnt.) and New (XVI-XVII) city halls. There are numerous buildings in Reneissance and Barocco styles (theatre of the XV century, Capuchin Abbey, built in the XVII century with graves of numerous aristocratic families).
 

To the mentioned architectural sights belong the Opera Thetare, the building of International Industry Fair, Tugendhat ville (built in 1929-1930 by architect Mis van der Roe).
 

In the Augustinian Abby Gregor Mendel held his experiments.
 

There is a settlement named Slavkov at Brno where the famous Austerlits battle took place.
 

Twin Cities

Brno develops twin relationships with 11 cities of the world. Among them there are Dallas (USA), Kaunas (Lithuania), Lids (Great Britain), Leipzig Germany), Poznan (Poland), Rennes (France), Sanct Piolten (Austria), Stuttgart (Germany), Utrecht (Netherlands), Vienna (Austria), Voronezh (Russia).
 

On the 12 th of March of 2005 the mayor of Kharkiv and the mayor of Brno signed the “Declaration of Intentions of cooperation between Kharkiv and the statutory city of Brno”. At first cooperation was expressed in exchange of official and professional delegations and later it was fulfilled with new forms such as commom economical missions providing, sports and cultural events, participation in international exhibitions and the “Days of Business of Ukraine in Brno”, development and realization of common projects.
 

During 2006-2007 the projects “Development of democracy institutions on the example of Czech Republic’ and a project “Brno as viewed by a kharkovite”. In September 2006 two basketball teams of Kharkiv participated in an international tournament “Brno-2006”.
 

In January of 2007 according to the invitation of the magistrate of Brno the representatives of kharkiv leaded by the president o fKharkiv trade and industrial chamber took part in the international exhibition fair of twin cities “REGIONTOUR-2007”.

In August of 2007 an official delegation of Brno headed by the mayor Roman Onderka took part in celebration of the Day of Kharkiv.
 

A full-scale contract about cooperation of Kharkiv and Brno has been preparing signing.


http://www.brno.cz