SOUTHERN MORAVIACzechInvest Information Series No. 17
Serial No.: REG/02/94-17
Date of Issue: February 10, 1994
SOUTHERN MORAVIAArea: 15,027 square kilometres
Population: 2,059,394*
Population Density: 137 inhabitants per square kilometre
Economically Active Population: 1,025,405*, or 50% of the population (480,860 were women)
Ethnic Diversity: 49.4% Moravian; 48.1% Czech; 1.7% Slovak; 0.1% Silesian; 0.7% Other (in descending order: Romany, Hungarian, German, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, and Ruthenian)*
Largest City: Brno (population=392,614*)
*From the 1991 Census
Southern Moravia is the Czech Republic's largest and most populated region, and is economically strong due to a heavy concentration of industries in the Brno and Zlin areas.
Southern Moravia's largest industrial centres include Brno, Zlin, Prostejov, Blansko, Jihlava, Zdar nad Sazavou, Hodonin, Breclav, Kromeriz, and Uherske Hradiste.
The region is also a centre of agricultural production, with 900,000 hectares of arable land. Production is focused on grain, corn, sugar-beet, potatoes, rape-seed, and flax. Also important is the production of fruit, vegetables, and wine. Regarding live-stock production, South Moravian farmers breed mainly pigs, cattle, sheep, and poultry.
Southern Moravia contains deposits of black coal, lignite, crude oil, natural gas, and building materials.
The region can be divided into four socio-economic areas:
1. The Brno area is located in the centre of the region. The area's largest city, Brno, is also the capital of Moravia and the Czech Republic's second largest city. The city contains more than 18% of the region's population and produces 22.5% of its gross industrial production. Brno's main industry is engineering, especially heavy engineering and the manufacturing of transportation vehicles and agricultural machinery; its industrial structure is dominated by large engineering plants. Other major industries in the area are the energy, chemical, and rubber industries; the manufacturing of building materials and furniture; and the wood-processing, shoe-making, food, wine, glass, and ceramics industries.
2. The Zlin area lies at the foot of the White Carpathian mountains. The town of Zlin is the area's economic hub, and is known as a centre for shoe-making.
3. The Horni Pomoravi region, located in upper Moravia, is an industrial and agricultural area. The area's largest town is Prostejov, known for its clothing and leather industries.
4. The Czech and Moravian Highlands includes the Zdar nad Sazavou, Jihlava, and Trebic districts. The area is a centre for the production of potatoes, rye, and flax. Industrial towns in the area include Zdar nad Sazavou (heavy engineering) and Trebic (shoe-making and textiles).
The region's main roads connect Brno to Prague and Bratislava. A network of smaller roads radiating from Brno connects the city to all of the region's towns. Main railway lines circle Southern Moravia, connecting Brno to Prague as well as to towns throughout the region.
Southern Moravia is one of the Czech Republic's most touristed areas, offering numerous historical monuments, a varied landscape, caves, castles, and fortresses. Another of the area's attractions is its well-known wine, which tourists can taste at any of the region's numerous wine cellars.
NOTE: This information is current as of February 1994. Although we have made every effort to ensure the reliability of our sources, CzechInvest does not assume responsibility for its accuracy.