Currency used in the Czech Republic is Czech Crown (CZK, koruna
ceska, Kc). There are exchange facilities at the train/bus
stations, airport and at the border. The approximate exchange
rate is 40 CZK for one US dollar and 36 CZK for 1 EURO. Look at
actual exchange rates.
Czech Crowns are available in the following denominations:
5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20. We advise you to ask
for 500, 200 banknotes when you exchange your money as these are
easier to change. Do not change money on the street.
Time Zone and Climate
Czech Republic is on Central European Time (MET DST), which
means it is two hour ahead of Greenwich mean time (GMT).
The weather is normally warm and sunny.
The place
Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, with a
population of almost 400,000, and the country's judiciary and
trade-fair center. The first written note of Brno comes from
the ninth century. City rights were acquired in 1243. After
successful defense of the city against the Swedes 350 years ago
(in 1643--45 during the Thirty Years' War), Brno became the
capital of Moravia. The nineteenth century was a period of
technological progress and development for Brno. It became one
of the most prominent industrial centers in the Austro-Hungarian
Empire. It was in Brno where J. G. Mendel formulated his theory
of heredity, V. Kaplan produced the first water turbine and Leos
Janacek composed his musical works. Milan Kundera wrote his
first novels here. Brno is the place of birth of Kurt Goedel---
one of the most important scientists of the 20th century in the
world context.
Brno is the capital of Moravia, which
is in the south-east part of the Czech Republic.
It had been a royal
city since 1347. There are six Universities in Brno.
Historical and artistic places of interest include:
Brno castle
(now called
Spilberk)
Veveri castle
The Old and New City halls
The Augustine
monastery, with St Thomas' Church and crypt of Moravian
margraves
The Church of St James
The
"Bishops' Church of St Peter & St Paul"
The famous villa Tugendhat, designed by Mies van der Rohe
Many other important examples of Czech architecture between the wars (1918-38).
In the immediate surroundings of Brno are the Moravian Karst with
Macocha Chasm and Punkva caves; the site of the "Battle of the Three
emperors" (Napoleon, Alexander of Russia, and Franz of Austria),
commonly known as the Battle of Austerlitz; the chateau of Slavkov
(Austerlitz); Pernstejn Castle; and many other attractions.
