Local Information

• Time zone and climate
• Currency
• Public transport
• Taxis
• About Brno

Time zone and climate

Czech Republic is on Central European Time (MET DST aka CEST), which means it is two hour ahead of Greenwich mean time (GMT). The average temperature for begin of September is between 20-25 °C. The weather is usually warm and sunny.

Weather forecast for Brno are provided by AccuWeather and by CNN weather.

Currency

The currency used is Czech crown (CZK, koruna ceska, Kc), which is made up of 100 hellers (hal). Czech crowns are available in the following denominanions:

• notes: 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 crowns
• coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 crowns and 50 hellers

The average rate is between 27 and 33 Kc for one US dollar as well as for one euro. Actual rates can be found here.

VISA and Mastercard are accepted by major shops and better restaurants, as well as by most petrol/gas stations.

Public transport

The public transport system in Brno is quite comprehensive and reliable. Season ticket for all city buses, trams and trolley-buses valid for the whole conference duration is a part of confrence materials.

Taxis

Brno taxi services have better reputation than those in Prague. Overcharging does not happen so often and the taxi-gang wars are not an issue here. In any case, when using the taxi, ask about an approximate price in advance and make sure that the taxi-meter has been set to zero at the beginning of the ride.

An operator of City Taxi (phone number ++420-542 321 321) is able to speak English.

About Brno

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 discovered his laws 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 Godel - one of the most important scientists of the 20th century in the world context. There are six Universities in Brno. Historical and artistic places of interest include

• Spilberk castle and fortifications - from 13th century, called Prison of Nations
• Petrov Cathedral - neo-Gothic, with crypt from 12th century
• St. James' Church - late Gothic building
• Dietrichstein Palace - from the beginning of 17th century
• Assembly House - Neo-Renaissance building
• Parnas Fountain - Baroque fountain from the end of 17th century
• Capuchin Church of the Holy Cross - from 17th century, with accessible crypt
• New Town Hall - core of the building from 13th century
• Old Town Hall - from 13th century, with richly decorated portal
• Tugendhat Villa - from 1930, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage

• Moravian Karst - with Macocha abyss, Punkva caves and others
• Austerlitz - known for Battle of Austerlitz and Baroque chateau
• Pernstejn Castle - well-preserved castle in late Gothic form
• Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape - artificial landscape, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage