About Brno
With more than 600,000 inhabitants in the larger metropolitan area, Brno is by no means a small city. In fact, it's one of the hundred biggest cities in the whole EU, and the second largest in Czechia. But the historic heart of the city feels a lot smaller. Like many European cities, Brno is a perfect place to explore on foot.
Located in the Moravia region of which it was once the capital, Brno is close to the borders of both Austria and Slovakia, making it easy to reach from many other European destinations. To this day, it remains the center of the Czech Judiciary and home to the country's Supreme Court. It's also one of the top locations for conventions in the entire EU.
The area around Brno has been occupied since before recorded history, but the city itself was first mentioned in written records in 1091. As the nation of Moravia formed, Brno shared its position as capital with two other cities. However, Brno was the seat of the rulers of Moravia. In the 17th century, it officially became the capital.
Brno remained the capital of Moravia until after the Second World War, when the Soviet rulers abolished Moravian autonomy. Following the collapse of Soviet rule, Brno became part of Czechoslovakia, which subsequently split into Slovakia and the Czech Republic.