I also have to take exception to the first contributor above - in seventeen years living in the city I have yet to come across images such as are described. In fact, I don't believe that person has even visited the city - who on earth carries around beer cans? Beer is 99% sold in bottles! I have never had Czech Chinese food in Brno, but I have had plenty of very decent Vietnamese fast food, cooked by Vietnamese. The tram system is second to none, rendering car use superfluous, and unless you go looking for them the sex clubs are pretty much invisible, and are certainly not in the centre. Free internet use for females? I've heard it all now...

Anyway- rant over - as for the Villa - yes, it looks pretty unprepossessing from the outside, and you have to bear in mind that it has been through the mill over the years (even having been used as stabling for horses after the war) so it is no surprise that it might look a bit shabby in places so a thorough re-fit is welcome.

The inside though is stunning, as is the view over the city's dominant features - the Špilberk castle and the spiky cathedral - especially in the summer or on a crisp winter's day. Once all the original glasswork is replaced it will truly live up to its reputation.

As a Czech speaker I obviously have no problem with the tour (plus I have worked on the preparation of the UNESCO documentation), but my mother has been on an English tour so they do exist - it all depends on who is on duty that day, I suppose.