South Moravia
The South Moravian Region lies in the south-eastern part of the Czech Republic. It's surrounded by Slovakia and Austria to the south, the South Bohemian Region and Vysocina to the west, Pardubice to the north and Zlin and Olomouc to the east. Most of the terrain is hilly with large river valleys. The main river is Morava, which plays an important role in the region's economy. This is one of the most fertile parts of the Czech Republic. The north is more attractive from a visitors' point of view, with its more or less intact nature. Numerous caves and the deepest gorge in the country attract mainly mountaineers. The biosphere reserve of Palava is home to many bird species. Among the cultural sites, the extraordinary architectural masterpiece Villa Tugendhat in Brno deserves mention. The administrative centre of Brno is the second-largest city in the country, after the capital, Prague. It's a significant centre of heavy industry and transport, and not just for the South Moravian Region.