Ostrava: The City on Crossroads – VIDEO

Dolni Vitkovice is the greatest lure in Ostrava. This area seeks to get to UNESCO world heritage list. You can explore majestic 19th century steelworks, coking plant, and mining tower. Moreover, there is the World of Technology, which is an interactive exhibition spanning over two halls.

There are more sights related to mining in Ostrava. For instance, the Landek mine. We wrote about it already. There is a beautiful exhibition. Some machines are so large they will take your breath away. Moreover, you can look down into the mines.

New Town Hall is another point of interest we recomend you to make a trip to. You can ride in an elevator up to its observation deck where you will get the vista over the city and its metropolitan area, the Beskydy mountains, and monumental Lysa mountain. There are huge industrial compounds of Ostrava to be seen from atop of the town hall. Some of them are still operating some not.

Notice how the city is green. Unfortunately, these are usually hill from mining covered with grass and the so called brownfields – places without usage where mines and factories used to be before. There are plans in Ostrava to make good use of such areas. Ema mound is a place that you can climb today. You will get a vista over unique forest. It grows thanks to the fact that it smoulders below. Therefore, it is much warmer there than on some other place.

Ostrava is a place of many other architectonic lndmarks. These are in downtown as well as some more remote districts. Ostrava-Habruvka is a unique working class district. Ostrava-Privoz district has a beautiful Art Noveau landmark zone. Ostrava-Poruba district is a showcase of grandiose socialistic 1950s architecture.

It will take numerous years for the city to heal its old wound after intensive black coal mining operations and steelworks. Right now you can witness he transformation of formerly heavy industry city into a modern city. It is a must-see for everyone who fancy history and culture.

GPS: (main train station) 49°51'07.4"N 18°16'09.8"E

Text and video: Matouš Vinš

Photos: Matouš Vinš, Klára Svobodová

Music: Alasdair Cooper