Survival Kit I.South Moravia: Geography, Labour Force, Economy Introduction

Introduction

The South Moravian Region (Jihomoravský kraj) spreads over an area of 7,188 sq km, located in the southeast of the Czech Republic and is the country’s fourth largest region. The region consists of the following seven districts: Blansko, Brno-city (Brno-město), Brno-district (Brno-venkov), Břeclav, Hodonín, Vyškov and Znojmo. The neighbouring Czech regions are Zlin Region (Zlínský kraj) to the east and Olomouc Region (Olomoucký kraj) to the northeast, Pardubice Region (Pardubický kraj) to the north and the Vysocina Region (Kraj Vysočina) and the South Bohemian Region (Jihočeský kraj) to the west. South Moravia has also two international borders – with Austria to the south and with Slovakia to the southeast. For the purposes of European regional policy, the South Moravian Region and the Vysocina Region together form the so-called cohesion region NUTS II Southeast.

Geography

The geographical conditions of the region are fairly diverse and can be divided into three principal types of landscapes. The northern part is characterized by hilly terrains – eastern slopes of the Czech-Moravian Highlands (Českomoravská vrchovina), Moravian Karst (Moravský kras) and the Drahany Highlands (Drahanská vrchovina). This part of the region has a large share of forested areas and very scenic countryside suitable for hiking and cycling and in the Moravian Karst also for caving and rock-climbing. On the contrary, most of the southern part of South Moravia belongs to the Dyje-Svratka Valley (Dyjsko-svratecký úval) which is characterized by mildly undulating landscapes often covered with vineyards or flat but very fertile agricultural landscapes with the warmest climate in the Czech Republic. The lowest point of South Moravia can be found here – the confluence of Dyje and Morava rivers - 150 m above sea level is also the southernmost part of the region. The City of Brno is located right in the place where these two types of landscape meet and thus enjoys a combination of both, a scenic and forested hinterland to the west and north, as well as a pleasant, mild climate and the proximity of wine and fruit producing areas to the south and east. Finally, the White Carpathians (Bílé Kapraty) located in the south-eastern part of South Moravia represent the highest elevation within the region (highest peak is Durda with 842 m above sea level). They form a natural boundary with Slovakia and represent one of the most pristine natural areas in the whole of Czech Republic with terrains suitable for cross-country skiing and also with very interesting lively folk traditions.

Population and Settlements

With a population of 1,192,698 inhabitants, South Moravia is the fourth most populated region in the Czech Republic. The population density of 166 inhabitants per sq km is somewhat higher than the national average.

Tab. 1: Population and settlements (as of March 31, 2020)

District	Number of settlements	Area (km²)	Population	Density of population (Inhabs/km²)
Blansko	116	862	109,162	127
Brno-city	1	230	381,569	1,659
Brno-district	187	1,499	225,076	150
Břeclav	63	1,038	116,302	112
Hodonín	82	1,099	153,891	140
Vyškov	80	869	92,328	106
Znojmo	144	1,590	114,370	72
South Moravia	673	7,188	1,192,698	166

Source: Czech Statistical Office, 2020

The capital of South Moravia is the city of Brno – the largest Moravian city and the second major city in the Czech Republic with a population standing at around 380,000. This number, however, represents only the number of permanent residents and does not include another approximately 150,000 people commuting to Brno for work, study or entertainment. The number of inhabitants together with the city’s economic importance clearly makes Brno a dominant centre of the entire region. However, there are other important cities in the South Moravia and 9 of them with more than 10,000 inhabitants.

Tab. 2: Towns with a population over 10,000 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2020)

Town	Population	Town	Population
Brno	381,346	Blansko	20,484
Znojmo	33,765	Boskovice	11,681
Břeclav	24,743	Kyjov	11,185
Hodonín	24,512	Veselí nad Moravou	10,889
Vyškov	20,807	Kuřim	10,993

Source: Czech Statistical Office, 2020

Universities

Regional Development Agency of South Moravia
Výstaviště 405/1
603 00 Brno
Czech Republic
www.rrajm.cz