Sociologický ústav AV ČR, v.v.i.

Brno lies in the centre of the European continent, and is the second largest city in the Czech Republic. Brno also symbolically represents the heart of the province of Moravia, one of the historic lands of the Czech crown. It is situated at the crossroads of ancient trade routes which have joined the North and South European civilizations for centuries.

Brno is situated in a picturesque countryside, surrounded on three sides by wooded hills and opening to the Southern Moravian lowlands to the south of the city. In the north, the city is guarded by the foothils of the Drahany and Bohemian-Moravian ranges. Brno is also easy to get to by train from Prague, Vienna, and Bratislava.

Brno is also home to a number of interesting tourist attractions. For example:

• Villa Tugendhat. This modernist landmark is an outstanding example of the international architectural style that flourished in the 1920s in Europe. The villae, designed by the architect Mies van der Rohe, has been restored to its original form, including the interior decorations. Because of its significant historic value and authenticity, it was lately added to UNESCO's World Heritage List. To visit this site, take tram 3,5, or 11 from the center to the "Children's Hospital" stop. It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm; admission is 80Kc ($2.85) adults, 40Kc ($1.42) students and children. Guided tours are provided, but booking in advance is recommended.

• Spilberk Castle. This imposing 13th-century castle dominates the skyline of Brno, and first served as a fortress and then as a prison for common criminals and opponents of the Hapsburg monarchy. Its builder, Czech King Přemysl Otakar II, approached it as a solid pillar of royal power as well as a seat for the rulers of Moravia, worthy of respect. Špilberk became the actual castle seat of the Moravian margraves only in the mid-14th century, under Jan Jindřich (1350-1375) and his son Jošt (1375-1411). This period, marked by the autonomous rule of the "Moravian" Luxembourgs, the brother and nephew of King Charles IV, lasted a mere six decades, but definitely constitutes the most significant and splendid, though least known, chapter in the history of the Brno castle. In 1783, Emperor Joseph II decided that Špilberk should no longer function as a fortress prison and that it should be converted into a civil prison intended for the most hardened criminals. Today, the castle holds the Brno City Museum and the casemates, and is visited by over 100,000 visiters each year.

• Mendel Museum. The Mendel Museum is dedicated to the founder of the field of genetics and is located at the Augustine Abbey in the Old Town of Brno. Gregor Johann Mendel, an Augustinian friar, lived and worked from 1843 in Brno, in the Augustian Abbey, of which he became the abbot in 1867. The museum's exhibition goes beyond the romantic myth of the cloistered monk undertaking incongruous experiments with peas; it explores "Mendel the man," and what led to the formulation of his laws of heredity. The exhibition covers Mendel's background and the driving force behind his scientific endeavour; his research interests and the development of his method; and finally his experiments and discovery. The museum is also located on the site where Mendel conducted his pea experiments. The museum is open daily from 10am-6pm, and costs 80 CZK for adults.