Olomouc

Following our stay in Brno, the 2nd largest city in Czech, we took a bus to Olomouc, the 3rd largest city. We were greeted by a stiff, cold wind that made strolling around a bit uncomfortable the first afternoon; in fact, after hitting the tourist office and visiting the two museums that are free on Sundays, we headed back to our pension for a long nap.

The second day (almost as chilly as the first), instead of our usual excursion, we tracked down some Art Nouveau buildings, watched the astronomical clock on the square do its noon-time show, ate lunch at Govinda Vegetarian Restaurant, had a Lángos at the market for an afternoon snack, visited a few more must see sights in town, and enjoyed a "party dinner ala Sun-Ling" in our pension at which I drank my first IPA of the trip.

Olomouc is known for its Baroque Holy Trinity Column (front right); a plague column that sits on the Main Square near the Town Hall which is located in the middle of said square (back left)./




It's also known for its 7 fountains. Here are two.






The old Markethouse.


Portion of an Art Nouveau building.


More Art Nouveau.






The Girl Photographer. Wow!




The Social Realist astronomical clock.


Lunch at Govinda.


Langos.


Vila Primavesi was closed but we could see the doorway Art Nouveau mosaics.








Looking to St. Wenceslas Cathedral x 2.




The Museum of Modern Art is in an art Nouveau building that needs renovation.


Trams.




Modernist Buildings.




Flying Cloud IPA.

Brno

Brno is the 2nd largest city in Czech and the First City of South Moravia. As we approached by bus, the tall spires of the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, one of the city's symbols, were easily spotted as it sits high on a hill. Although it's a longish walk from the main bus terminal through a mall and under the train station to the edge of the Old Town, one is then rewarded as the large city center is virtually free of automobile traffic. Also missing are cobblestone streets and sidewalks as the spaces between buildings are paved with wide, flat stones - great for walking and skateboarding. Electric trams ferry folks around.

Brno has a mix of architecture. In addition to Neo-Baroque architectural stylings, there are numerous modern era buildings ie 1890 to 1945 that kept us busy one day on a 20 kilometer walking tour. Whew!

We liked Brno a lot; and the anticipated cold and rain never arrived.

Our first stop in Brno was at the very helpful Tourist Office in the Old Town Hall which featured a dragon, er crocodile, inside and reliefs outside.




The New Town Hall features a Social Realism statue from 1928.


The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul as seen from the Castle.


The cathedral itself has a fine view of the city eg this sunset view to the Protestant Red Church.


Another sunset view.


Our pension was right off the main square where we never tired of visiting.




The interior of a 1930's Functionalist building near our pension.


Cafe.


Apartments.


The beer hall, pivarium, just below our pension.


And a nearby church with horse statue.


Some shots of the "vehicle free" city center.






Gregor Mendel, the monk who is known as "the father of modern genetics" did most of his research at this Augustinian Monastery in Brno. Sun-ling was horrified to see the large sign and cafe inside the hollowed scientific grounds of the monastery.


Not to mention that the nearby brewery's beer hall is right next door (to the left in this shot).


Brno, one of the economic engines of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (textile manufacturing), has hosted trade fairs since 1248 (according to Wikipedia). In 1928 the Modernist Brno Exhibition Center was completed, and continues to expand. Here are some shots of the circa 1928 buildings.








The back of this Modernist apartment building reminded us of 1930's apartments in Shanghai.




Finally, these Art Nouveau buildings round out our tour of Brno's 20th Century architecture.