VENUE

Brno is located in the gravity-center of the European continent. You can read the general information, published by City of Brno, Mayor’s Office

THE CITY OF BRNO

Brno is the second largest city in the country (nearly 400 000 inhabitants). It is the centre of the province of Moravia, one of the historic lands of the Czech Crown. Brno is situated in a picturesque countryside (190 - 425 m above sea level), surrounded on three sides by wooded hills and opened to the Southern Moravian lowlands. Geographically, Brno is part of the Danube Basin and has many historical ties to the Austrian capital Vienna, which lies a mere 110 km to the south. Brno enjoys a very pleasant, moderate climate, ideal for recreation and everyday living.

Its historical centre is situated above the confluence of Svratka and Svitava rivers. Brno lies in a wide valley, surrounded from three sides by mountains. Brno was founded on an important trade route (in 9th century) and its location has always been an advantage for its citizens. As a historical capital of Moravia, the position of Brno was confirmed with the establishment of a bishopric in 1777. The castle Špilberk stands for the most popular sightseeing in the city centre. It was built in the first half of the 13th century on the top of a hill bearing the same name. In the 18th century, it was transformed into an enormous Baroque fort which also became a feared prison, with the casemates being particularly notorious. Brno is traditionally connected with both the industrial area in the North and the agricultural and wine-growing areas in the South.

A number of renowned personages lived and worked in Brno. Johann Gregor Mendel (1822 - 1884), father of genetics and the discoverer of the principles of heredity, carried out his experiments in the gardens of the Old Brno Monastery, which has been later turned into "Mendelianum" - a museum and a scientific centre. Ernst Mach (1838 - 1916), a famous physicist and philosopher was born in Brno and spent an important part of his live in the territory of the Czech Republic. Music composer Leoš Janáček (1854 - 1928) worked in Brno since 1881 as a director of organ school and a professor at the Music Academy. Brno is also connected with the name of Karel Absolon (1877 - 1960), a world known expert on prehistory (he is a founder of the "Venus of Vestonice", a famous Stone-Age idol), and on geomorphology and zoology of Moravian Karst areas. Old Brno Brewery, the oldest brewery on the Moravian territory, had originally been a part of the Old Brno Monastery.

After the foundation of Czechoslovakia in 1918 Brno became also a cultural and educational centre of Moravia. The already existing Polytechnic (now Brno University of Technology) was completed with the new Masaryk University, established in 1919, and with the College of Agriculture and Forestry (now Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry) and the College of Veterinary Medicine. After the Second World War another two centres of university education were established: Janáček Academy of Fine Arts and Brno University of Defence. Many member institutions of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic reside in Brno.

Brno gradually became also an important centre of trade and industry. Rich tradition in mechanical engineering was behind the idea of organizing international engineering exhibitions which later resulted in international trade fairs. All international fairs and exhibitions take place at Brno Fair Grounds, established in 1928 for the then purpose of the Exhibition of Contemporary Culture. In spite of being an industrial centre, Brno can offer beautiful surrounding, hills and forests sheltering natural treasures (for example Moravian Karst), and objects of historical and artistic value.

LOCATION

ECF17 will be held at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Technická 2, Brno, Czech Republic.

GPS: 49°13'26.35"N, 16°34'38.25"E