Fireworks above Špilberk castle (source: ignisbrunensis.cz)

Hundreds of thousands of specators are going to enjoy the 2011 Ignis Brunensis fireworks festival. If you want to join them and witness the largest local event of 2011, follow three simple advices.

1. Check out the schedule

… and remember that the fireworks take place even during heavy rain.

Prelude at the Denis Gardens (i.e. Petrov cathedral)

Friday, 27 May / 10.30 p.m.

Theatrum Pyroboli, Czech Republic: Metamorphosis

(Best vieweable from main train station and Nové sady st.)

Exhibition at Brno dam lake

Saturday, 28 May / 10.30 p.m.
Flash Barrandov SFX Czech republic: Vitamins for Friends

(Take trams #1, #3 or #11 to get to the lake from the centre of Brno. For the best view, stand at the banks near the Santon hotel and quay, i.e. not further than one kilometer away.)

Competition at Brno dam lake

Wednesday, 1 June / 10.30 p.m.
Storm Artifices, France: Stormy concert

Saturday, 4 June / 10.30 p.m.
Fire Event Les Pyrotechniciens, Luxembourg: Luxembourg Meets Brno!

Wednesday, 8 June / 10.30 p.m.
Vaccalluzzo, Italy: Human Moods

Exhibition at Špilberk castle

Friday, 10 June / 10.30 p.m.
Flash Barrandov, SFX Czech republic: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances

2. Bring a radio, use public transport

Each of the fireworks has a soundtrack, so tune 88.3 FM at your cell phone or pocket radio to listen while watching.

There will be dozens of extra trams and buses transporting people to the fireworks at Brno dam lake and then back downtown, so it is quicker to get around by public transport than by a car. Also, it’s quite complicated, if not impossible, to park a car near the Brno dam lake during the fireworks display.

It is also wise to get to the venue one or two hours before the fireworks start. You can have some beer and sausage, listen to live music etc.

Remember that Brno dam lake is not very far from Brno – if you find it hard after the fireworks to get to a bus, you can walk back downtown in a hour and a half or so through Komín, Žabovřesky and Veveří quarters (all safe).

3. Don’t miss other events

The fireworks festival is only a part of what is called “The days of Brno, the city in the center of Europe”, which is a totally stupid phrase, but it actually means some great fun.

A vintage tram Caroline riding through the streets of Brno (source: Dezidor @ Flickr)

On Friday, May 27, there is the Night of Churches, which means that churches in and around Brno will be open until midnight and you can explore many places that are usually closed for public. (Wait for another Brno Now post for more info.)

From May 27 to May 29, you can join the Hot air balloon jam (not for the faint-hearted).

If you like old buses, tramways etc., don’t miss the Transport nostalgia festival on June 11 and 12. You can see some really old vehicles riding right in the centre of Brno – and even get aboard some of them.

Check out the official website for more events.

A part of a wild boar family

Thinking about a nice Sunday hike? Get a trolley bus to quarter Kohoutovice and enjoy a game preserve at hills Holedná and Hobrtenky.

Located only 15 minutes from Mendlovo sq. in the centre of the town, the preserve is a great place where to spot deers, moufflons and wild boars (safely locked in a large cattle-range).

Cute, isn't it?

It is allowed to feed the boars – just remember that although they like bread, it is bad for their health.

Your kids will be fascinated by the animals.

Holedná and Hobrtenky hills are a wonderful place for hiking, biking on running. It is easier to start in Kohoutovice quarter, because you’ll go downhill – but if you want to do something for your health, hike from Jundrov or Bystrc uphill.

Map

The green arrow shows the location of the wild boar range. Deers and moufflons live all over the forrest between Kohoutovice, Bystrc and Jundrov quarters.

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A ferry boat on the Brno dam lake (source: Wikimedia Commons)

After two years, ships are sailing again on the artificial lake above the Brno dam. One of the best ways of spending a day off in Brno had to step aside last year due to the lake’s cleanup.

A two way ticket from the docks in quarter Bystrc (tram stop Přístaviště, accessible by tram line 3, 9 and 11) to castle Veveří cost CZK 170 (€6.60). The ships sail every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Of course, you can take shorter sails, for example to return to Brno with your bike from a long trip.

All the ships have orlop decks, so you can stand a little rain (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Last week, brand new ship “Lipsko”, named after Leipzig, the German twin-city of Brno, was baptized. It can carry up to 200 passengers.

Map

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I discovered this video of powered paragliding, taken at (or rather above) the water reservoir in Bystrc, and I knew I had to share it:

Later I discovered somebody who is recording his downhill biking accomplishments and uploading the stomach-rising videos to Vimeo:

I absolutely adore these young fellas, jumping and skipping at park “Denisovy sady”. Actually I think that this sport, called “le parkour” is the most dangerous one out of the three sports mentioned in this article:

If you know about any other extreme sport achievements captured on film anywhere in (or near) Brno, let us know in the comments.

Vítězslav Krejčí posted this fancy video of winter ZOO to the Facebook page of Brno Now:

Zoo is opened every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and most of the animals is having quite a good time in the snow, so be sure to visit the garden before spring comes.

Help to build a new home for your favorite runaway monkey

Poster of Heiko (source: www.zoobrno.cz)

Gelada baboon male Heiko has escaped the garden for two times and the management of the ZOO is trying to collect money for building a better run, where Heiko would not feel so urgent need of running away.

If you want to help Heiko, send a short text message “HEIKO” to number 902 77 40 before January 31 (I think you need a Czech SIM-card to do this). It will cost you CZK 40 (€1.50) and you will receive a message that will serve as a ticket to the grand opening of Heiko’s new palace.

Map

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A male gelada (theropithecus gelada). Source: Wikimedia Commons

The management of ZOO planned to hand gelada baboon male Heiko over to some other ZOO but it seems that the freewheeling monkey is actually a kind of advertisment for the zoological garden, attracting many new fans.

Heiko has run away from ZOO twice in last two years. In 2007, he was captured after several days while he was begging golf players in Jinačovice for cookies. In October 2009, he spent several nights hidden in woods around quarters Bystrc and Kohoutovice.

Martin Hovorka, director of the ZOO, anounced yesterday that Heiko would stay in Brno, relocated to a safer pavilion.

Source: Brněnský deník Rovnost

So, is there darkness on the edge of the town?

Quick facts

The old Bystrc with cute church and neat, narrow streets.

Village Bystrc became a part of Brno as late as of 1945. In the 1970s, suburb for some 20,000 people was built around the old village. Today, Bystrc has totally 23,312 inhabitants.

Pros

• The quarter lies next to the Brno dam, which means great leisure opportunities.
• Cheap flats, low rents.

Cons

• Too far from the centre (25-30 mins by tram).
• Probably the worst case of “urbanism” among suburbs of Brno. Some streets look like a concrete jungle.
• Future R43 highway will be going trough the very centre of the quarter (although it will be partly hidden under ground).

You will love Bystrc if you…

The architects designing the suburb in the 1970s did not know much about psychology or aesthetics.

• …are a passionate biker or hiker.
• …don’t have much money to spend on rent.

You will hate Bystrc if you…

• …don’t like suburbs.

Shopping facilities

There are several supermarkets, as well as smaller shops.

Extra tip

There are several beer gardens on the way to the dam, usually serving grilled meat and other Czech specialities.

Extra link

See a gallery at Wikimedia Commons!

Map

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