The Brno Day Festival takes visitors back to the time when the city was under siege by the Swedes

8 August 2023, 1:00
The Brno Day Festival takes visitors back to the time when the city was under siege by the Swedes

In Brno, the second weekend of August will be in the spirit of the year 1645, when Brno was besieged by Swedish troops. The traditional historical city festival Brno Day, which commemorates the successful defence of Brno against the Swedes, will offer attractions such as a historical parade, period music, a craft fair and a reconstruction of the battle.

On Friday 11 August, we will remember the Swedish commander General Torstenson - the popular tours of the Labyrinth under Zelný trh will be enlivened by the performance of The Black Ball for General Torstenson. Participants will witness a mysterious ceremony, during which a magical black sphere is created, which according to legend is the only thing that could kill the Swedish warlord. You can also meet Torstenson and the commander of the Brno troops Raduit de Souches in the new exhibition The Fiery Horse and the Dragon in the Cellar under the New Town Hall. Here you will learn more not only about this battle, but also about other legends connected with Brno. On Saturday 12.8 TIC BRNO has prepared a 30% discount on admission if you correctly say the name of the Swedish warlord three times at the ticket office.

On Saturday, August 12, some parts of the city will return to the time of the Thirty Years' War. In the morning, over 200 soldiers will march from Denisovy sady in a procession to the Church of St. James to pay tribute to the memory of Raduit de Souches. Afterwards, the troops will move back to their military camp on Kraví hora, where visitors will experience the authentic atmosphere of camp life and regular demonstration exercises of typical military units of the Thirty Years' War, such as musketeers, arquebusiers, pikemen and artillerymen.

The highlight of Saturday afternoon is the battle reconstruction on Kraví hora, which shows the most important moments from the siege of Brno. "This year, it will be conceived in an unconventional way, as a sequence of specific battle scenes and events that are historically documented and will be narrated to the audience by a fictional witness of the events, an orphan named Janek Kroupa, who experienced the siege first-hand. Spectators will surely find the equestrian show of the Tvrz Association to be attractive, this year supplemented by the participation of contemporary horseriders - members of the Hypology Department of the Czech Republic’s Police Force, which will create an interesting contrast and comparison of equestrianism separated by almost 400 years. There will also be a period fashion show and concerts of medieval music, and the transition to the present day will be created by an evening rock concert of the band Tempus and Clamortis inspired by medieval music," says Ondřej Anton from the 1645 Society.

The festival programme also includes events at Špilberk Castle."A period fair, traditional food, medieval music, historical crafts, costumed castle tours, theatrical performances, dancers, swordsmen and exciting jousting contests. A varied programme awaits you at the castle this year, which will entertain children and adults alike for the whole day. You can take part in creative workshops, dancing lessons, or get carried away by fantasy in the Wonderful World of Jiří Šebesta playroom. The day will close with a unique concert by Societas Incognitorum and the Pacora Trio and a dynamic fire show performed by the Pa-li-tchi group," says Jana Janulíková, director of TIC BRNO, inviting visitors to Špilberk.

The festival programme also follows a spiritual line in connection with the legacy of Father Martin Středa, who was a great support for the besieged city . "On Friday, while making paper bells in the Diocesan Museum, we will remember why the noon bell actually rings at eleven o'clock in Brno. On Saturday, three guided tours of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary at the Jesuits await visitors. On Sunday 13. 8. bishop Pavel Konzbul of Brno will be at the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul to take the pontifical service for the city of Brno. Both children and adults alike will then be able to try making a sculpture during a creative workshop with Patrik Vlček,” says Martina Jandlová, spokesperson for the Bishopric of Brno, on this addition to the Spiritual side of the programme.

Photo TIC Brno/ Michal Růžička

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