Spilberk
Castle
The Spilberk Castle (Hrad Spilberk) in Brno dates to the 13th Century and
was built by the Czech King Pøemysl Otakar II. Spliberk Castle has served
many purposes over the years, including that of a royal castle, a military
fortress, and a prison. Today the castle is home to the Brno City Museum,
with permanent displays and temporary exhibitions. The permanent exhibits
focus on the architectural history of the castle, the castle as a prison
when it was referred to as the "prison of the nations", and the history of
Brno. Concerts, theatrical performances, and other cultural events are
held in the Spilberk Castle courtyard during the summer months. There is
also a lookout tower, which visitors can climb for fine views over Brno.
Tugendhat
Villa
Built by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the Tugendhat Villa in Brno
is touted as one of the most extraordinary examples of modern architecture
from its time. Located in a residential area, it was constructed in 1930
for Fritz Tugendhat, for whom the building is named. Listed as a UNESCO
World Heritage site, the Tugendhat Villa incorporates some of the most
modern technology and concepts from that time period and was the first
masterpiece of modern architecture in the Czech Republic. The home
features an open plan and uses materials that include onyx, chrome,
travertine, ebony, and Macassar.
The original Jewish family who owned Tugendhat Villa fled the country in
1938. During the Second World War the building suffered damage and was
later used as a school and a hospital. It eventually became the property
of the town of Brno who did some work to replair the building but it is
still in need of repair.
Moravian
Karst and Caves
If you are touring the Czech Republic in the summer and the weather is hot
and you need a break, the coolness of the Moravian Karst and Caves is the
perfect spot. The Karst area is 100 square kilometers and contains over
1000 known caves of which 4 are open to the public. Some caves have not
been completely mapped out and qualified spelunkers continue to explore
them.
Located 25km / 15mi north of Brno, the caves are a popular attraction, so
be sure to arrive early. There are three main tourist routes in the area:
red, yellow, and green. Be sure to inquire at the tourist information
booth as to which one suits your level of adventure. The four main caves
are the Katerinska (Katerinska jeskyne), Balcarka (Balcarka jeskyne),
Sloupsko-Sosuvske (Sloupsko-Sosuvske jeskyne), and Punkevni (Punkevni
jeskyne)
The caves contain interesting stalagmites and stalactites and are well lit
with passage ways. A highlight of the area is a boat tour along an
underground river. Also of note is the Macocha Abyss, a deep chasm
redolent with luxuriant vegetation.
europe, map of europe, travel
europe, 89 europe, europe tour, eastern europe, flight to europe, great britain
europe, europe cruise, europe vacation, history of europe, travel europe france, map
of western europe, britain europe general great, cheap flight to europe, europe
car rental, europe news, wow europe, rail europe, map of eastern europe, western
europe, europe trip, europe travel guide, backpacking europe, europe
hotel, central europe, europe germany, europe travel package, nfl europe, eastern
europe travel, europe ireland, europe train, cheap travel europe, blank map of
europe, europe river cruise, europe airfare, ski europe, cheap airfare to
europe, europe country, country in europe, holiday, visit europe, europe france, europe
atlas, union europe, europe beach, cheap ticket to europe, united kingdom and
europe,
Spilberk
Castle
Tugendhat
Villa
Moravian
Karst and Caves
