The Christmas Tree of the Republic has been an indispensable symbol of Christmas in Brno 98 years. It was first erected on Freedom Square in 1924 at the urging of the author Rudolf Těsnohlídek. This was the first public Christmas tree on a Czech square and came from the Bílovice forest, where in 1919 a young girl was discovered after having been left in the snow and rescued by the author and his friends.

This year once again a Christmas tree will make its way to Brno from Bílovice nad Svitavou on 19 November. Its size means it will be brought not by horse but by lorry. This year’s pine will be 17 metres tall. Come to Bílovice nad Svitavou to see it off on its journey.