From the mid-19th century onwards, the Kohn family developed a brickworks on the border between Bohunice and Old Brno, which gradually became the largest enterprise of its kind in Czechoslovakia. Bricks produced by the Kohn brickworks were used in the construction of numerous houses and major public buildings, helping to shape the city of Brno as we know it today. The following generation expanded the family's business into the textile industry and, through family ties, connected the Kohns with other prominent Jewish families, most notably the Löw-Beers and the Tugendhats. Together, their stories reflect a period of extraordinary economic growth, cultural vitality, and social responsibility that transformed Brno into the Moravian Manchester.
On this guided tour, Martin Koplík will lead participants to places associated with the Kohn family’s business activities and everyday life, highlighting not only their remarkable contribution to the development of Brno but also the tragic disruption of their legacy as a result of Nazi persecution.
The tour will be conducted in Czech.
